Written Answers of 3 November 1994

DEFENCE

  RAF Board of Inquiry
  Mr. Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he intends to divulge to the next of kin of those killed in the accident between a helicopter and a RAF Tornado on 23 June 1993, in Cumbria the results of the board of inquiry.

  Mr. Soames
  A summary of the findings of the board of inquiry into this accident has already been provided to the next of kin of those killed.

  Mr. Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the RAF board of inquiry to report into the accident involving a civilian helicopter and an RAF Tornado in Cumbria on 23 June 1993.

  Mr. Soames
  The board of inquiry into this accident is complete and a summary of its findings has been placed in the Library of the House.

  VSEL
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the powers accruing to him from the Government's golden share in VSEL.

  Mr. Freeman
  The principal rights attaching to the special share in VSEL are:

  (a) to veto disposal of the whole, or a material part, of the assets, and any voluntary winding-up, of the company;

  (b) to speak at shareholders' meetings; and

  (c) to veto changes to certain of the Articles of Association which prevent any one party controlling more than 15 per cent. of the equity and require that the Chairman, Chief Executive, Managing Director and a majority of all Directors are citizens of the United Kingdom.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with(a) GEC-Marconi and (b) British Aerospace over a takeover of VSEL.

  Mr. Freeman
  Ministers and officials of my Department have had a number of discussions with both GEC and British Aerospace on this subject.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what assessment he has made of the implications of the possible takeover of VSEL by(a) GEC or (b) British Aerospace for future decisions for the procurement of batch 2 Trafalgar class nuclear submarines;

  (2) what assessment he has made of the implications of a takeover of VSEL by (a) GEC or (b) British Aerospace for the Government's competition policy in the defence sector.

  Mr. Freeman
  My Department will, in the usual way, be giving its views to the regulatory authorities on the 1236
  competition and any other relevant aspects of the possible takeover of VSEL. Those views are confidential.

  Competition
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's policy concerning competition in the defence industry; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  My Department recognises the importance of a healthy and competitive defence industry. Any restructuring of the defence industry is primarily a matter for the market, subject, of course, to the regulatory authorities, to whom my Department makes its views known, in confidence, on particular cases.

  Gulf War
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what exposure to chemical agents was experienced by United Kingdom forces in the Gulf war.

  Mr. Soames
  This is a matter for the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down, under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive of the CBDE to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Graham Pearson to Dr. David Clark, dated 3 November 1994:
  1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking him what exposure to chemical agents was experienced by United Kingdom Forces in the Gulf War has been passed to me to reply as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.
  2. During Operating GRANBY, the potential hazard to Service personnel resulting from the bombing of Iraqi targets at which chemical weapons were stored was recognised by the Ministry of Defence. The Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment made an assessment of the potential downwind hazard distances based on various assumptions for the quantity of agent that might be released as a result of a bombing attack and for the associated meteorological conditions.
  3. The result of the assessment indicated that even assuming simultaneous release of the majority of agent from several bunkers under meteorological conditions which favoured the downwind travel of the agent cloud and ignoring the fact that chemical agents are organic materials which are destroyed by combustion, the maximum distance at which there would be any hazard was of the order of a few tens of kilometres. In practice, simultaneous release is unlikely to occur, agent will be destroyed by combustion and meteorological conditions will be less favourable resulting in a significantly reduced downwind hazard distance.
  4. The conclusion was that there was no evidence that British Servicemen and women would be exposed to chemical warfare agent as a result of bombing attacks. Our appreciation is that the US Department of Defense carried out similar studies and reached similar conclusions. In addition, there was no confirmed detection of chemical warfare agents at any time by the UK Forces in the Gulf War.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what purposes organo-phosphate malathion pesticide was used by British forces in the Gulf war; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  A dusting powder containing 1 per cent. malathion was used by British forces environmental health personnel to treat about 50 lice-infested Iraqi troops at the prisoner of war enclosure at Quaisuma. Owing to the small number involved, each prisoner was treated individually and no lengthy collective treatments took place.
  1237
  Malathion is recommended in standard therapeutic textbooks as a treatment of choice for lice infestation and several preparations are commercially available in the United Kingdom, including body lotions and hair shampoos.

  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British troops were exposed to organ-phosphorous pesticides, including malathion, during the Gulf War; and what research his Department has undertaken into the links between the use of these pesticides and Gulf war syndrome.

  Mr. Soames
  I am aware of only 10 British service personnel who would have been involved with organ-phosphorous pesticides used by United Kingdom forces during the Gulf conflict. These 10 were members of a medical team involving in delousing some 50 Iraqi troops with a dusting powder containing 1 per cent. malathion at the prisoner of war enclosure at Quaisuma. Malathion is recommended in standard therapeutic textbooks as a treatment of choice for lice infestation and several preparations are commercially available in the United Kingdom, including body lotions and shampoos.

  No clinical evidence indicative of exposure to organo-phosphates has been found among the service personnel who have come forward with concerns about their health related to service in the Gulf. No specific research into organo-phosphorous has therefore been carried out in relation to the alleged Gulf war syndrome, though evidence from all relevant sources is closely monitored.

  LSD Experiments
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the use of LSD in experiments on British service personnel; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  This is a matter for the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive of CBDE to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Graham Pearson to Dr. David Clark, dated 3 November 1994:
  1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking him if he will make a statement on the use of LSD in experiments on British Service personnel has been passed to me to reply as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.
  2. The role of the Chemical and Biological Establishment is to carry out research to ensure that the UK Armed Forces are provided with effective protective measures against the threat that chemical or biological weapons may be used against them. As part of that programme, evaluation is carried out of chemicals that may be utilised by an aggressor as a chemical warfare agent.
  3. An appreciation of the effects of LSD on man and the knowledge that LSD could be synthesised led to research in the 1960s at the then Chemical Defence Experimental Establishment which was renamed the Chemical Defence Establishment in 1969 into whether LSD might be used by an aggressor as an incapacitating CW agent and one which might lead to the loss of will to fight.
  4. The work carried out by CBDE Porton Down was solely to determine that protective measures were appropriate and were largely concerned in assessing the effects of LSD on troops in a military setting, where the behaviour of volunteers who had taken LSD was compared with that of control volunteers who had not
  1238
  taken LSD. All volunteers were subjected to stringent medical and psychological screening.
  The assessment was made that although LSD could be synthesised, it was immensely expensive and being a solid it would be difficult to disseminate further and as the effects were not highly predictable, the conclusion was reached that LSD would not present a significant battlefield hazard.

  Kuwait
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what documentary evidence he has regarding the nature of the substances found by 21 EOD Squadron, British Royal Engineers in August 1991 at a school in Kuwait.

  Mr. Soames
  The report by 21st EOD Squadron was received by my Department in August 1991 and, in accordance with its recommendations, samples of the substance collected in Kuwait city were submitted for laboratory analysis. The CBDE analytical report showed that the samples were consistent with being fuming nitric acid, a rocket motor propellant; there was no evidence of any chemical warfare agent being present.

  Defence Industry
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) when he last met the chief executive of British Aerospace;

  (2) when he last met the chairman of GEC-Marconi.

  Mr. Freeman
  Ministers of my Department meet senior representatives of the defence industry frequently. My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Defence met Mr. Dick Evans, the chief executive of British Aerospace plc, on 11 July and I met him on 1 November. I met right hon. Friend the Member for Chertsey and Walton (Sir G. Pattie) joint chairman of GEC-Marconi Ltd., on 31 October.

  Defence Procurement Policy
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department's defence procurement policy requires the availability of more than one facility to build large naval vessels.

  Mr. Freeman
  My Department's procurement policy is based on competition wherever practicable.

  Departmental Property
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what properties are owned or leased by his Department for the use of Ministers; what was the total running cost for each property for the latest year available broken down into(a) furniture and fittings, (b) maintenance, (c) staffing, including the number of butlers, cooks and housekeepers,(d) food and hospitality and (e) other costs; what is the estimated value of each property; and how many times in the latest year the property was stayed in overnight by a Minister.

  Mr. Soames
  The only property available to Ministers in my Department is a flat in Admiralty house, Whitehall, which is occupied by my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Defence. Admiralty house is a freehold property managed by Property Holdings—a division of the DOE—to which my Department pays and annual rent of £56,276 for the flat, together with an annual
  1239
  maintenance charge of £18,396. The estimated value of the property is unknown. During the last financial year, 1993–94, £13.35 was spent on furniture and fittings for the flat; £13 was spent on official entertainment; and £245 was spent on other costs. There are no staff costs attributable to the Defence budget as the Secretary of State employs his own cleaner. The flat is used regularly by the Secretary of State during the working week.

  Spencer Stuart Consultants
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many contracts his Department or Government agencies responsible to his Department have entered into with Spencer Stuart consultants in the last two years.

  Mr. Soames
  There have been no centrally placed contracts with Spencer Stuart consultants. While lower value contracts many have been let with the company by subordinate budget-holders, the information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Lockheed
  Mr. Eastham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 11 July,Official Report, column 440, when he expects to write to the hon. Member for Manchester, Blackley, on visits to Lockheed facilities in the United States of America.

  Mr. Freeman
  I have written to the hon. Member today. I regret the delay in responding to his original question.

  RAF Doctors (Training)
  Ms Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in what circumstances it would he possible for a civilian junior hospital doctor—house officer—in general medicine to take up a post in a Royal Air Force medical centre as a Royal Air Force medical officer without attending the courses at RAF Cranwell, RAF Halton and RAF Farnborough.

  Mr. Soames
  I am not aware of any circumstances in which a house officer would be employed in a Royal Air Force medical centre, as the term "house officer" implies that full medical registration has not been achieved.

  Ms Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the lengths and locations of the courses for junior doctors entering the Royal Air Force as junior medical officers for(a) officer training, (b) medical administration, occupational health and forces classification training and (c) aviation medicine training.

  Mr. Soames
  The lengths and locations of the courses are:

  a. Officer Training - eight weeks at RAF Cranwell.

  b. Initial Medical Officer Training (Administration) - two weeks at the Institute of Health and Medical training. RAF Halton.

  c. Initial Medical Officer Training (Aviation Medicine) - two weeks at RAF Farnborough and the Aviation Medicine Training Centre at RAF North Luffenham.

  Market Testing
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his current calculation of the costs of preparation for market testing in his Department in terms of(a) payments to consultants and (b) other costs.
  1240
  Mr. Freeman
  The MOD's competing for quality programme, which includes the market testing of activities, aims at achieving long-term savings and quality improvements in relation to the resources required to undertake the services involved. In the period April 1992 to September 1993, some £346·2 million of activities were exposed to the competing for quality process, creating gross savings of £19·8 million. Final details for the year ending September 1994 are not yet available, but activities in excess of the target £216 million have been exposed to the competing for quality process with expected saving of 20 per cent. A breakdown of the Department's costs from April 1992 to June 1994 is as follows:

  Consultancy costs £3·1 million

  Other costs £5·4 million

  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in what circumstances individuals or companies will be prohibited from bidding for his Department's work in respect of market testing or contracting out.

  Mr. Freeman
  In selecting companies to tender for MOD work, the Department has a responsibility to ensure that the companies are satisfactory in terms of financial standing, and that they have the technical capability and capacity to perform the work.

  Turnhouse Airport
  Dr. Reid
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what facilities his Department operates at Turnhouse airport; and what plans he has to close them.

  Mr. Soames
  The following units are located at RAF Turnhouse:

  East Lowlands University Air Squadron

  No. 12 Air Experience Flight

  No. 3 Flt Army Air Corps (Volunteers)

  Joint Maritime Operational Training Staffs

  Headquarters Provost and Security Services (Scotland)

  The Air Cadets Regional Headquarters (Scotland and Northern Ireland)

  Air Cadets (CCF) RAF Liaison Officer for Scotland and Northern Ireland

  RAF Turnhouse also parents a number of minor off-site units.

  There are no current plans to close any of these units. The defence costs study concluded, however, that there was scope for rationalising university air squadrons, and this work is currently underway. Should any proposals be made which would affect the East Lowlands UAS, or any of the other units at RAF Turnhouse, they would of course be subject to consultation in the normal way.

  Al Yamamah Agreement
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 24 October,Official Report, column 495, on the Al Yamamah agreement, if he will now make it his policy to request from The Sunday Times the original tape recordings and other evidence.

  Mr. Freeman
  No.

  Slovakia (Low flying)
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what response he has made to the offer from the Government of Slovakia about low flying; and if he will make a statement.
  1241
  Mr. Soames
  My noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Defence visited Slovakia in August. During informal discussions, the then Slovak Defence Minister proposed a range of areas for closer bilateral defence co-operation, in the context of partnership for peace; including opportunities for low flying. We are looking closely at those proposals.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will investigate the methods by which procedures could be changed so that hon. Members could table questions for written answer during parliamentary recesses, other than in August, and receive answers.

  Name

  Post

  Salary

  Duration

  Party

  Sir Julian Ridsdale

  Member of the Simpler Trade Procedures Board

  Unpaid

  27 October 1992–31 December 1994

  Conservative

  Charles Longbottom

  Non-Executive Director of British Shipbuilders

  £5,000

  Since 1988 (renewed on a yearly basis)

  Conservative

  Robin Hodgson

  Member of the West Midlands Industrial Development Board

  Unpaid

  1 January 1989– 31 December 1994

  Conservative

  Oil and Gas Industry
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what consultations will be held regarding the possible withdrawal of any nominated blocks from the 16th round on environmental grounds.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answers I gave the hon. Member for Pembroke (Mr. Ainger) on 25 October,Official Report, columns 556-58 and 559-60.

  My officials recently met members of the Wildlife and Countryside Link consortium to discuss their views on the nominated blocks for the round. I will, of course, take the WCL's comments into account when deciding which blocks should or should not be offered for licence in the 16th round.

  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what environmental criteria were used to exclude blocks from the 14th offshore oil and gas licensing round; and whether it is planned to use the same criteria for the 16th round.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  A number of blocks were not offered in the 14th round because it was felt that, on balance, it would not be possible to agree licence conditions which would allow the prospective operator to carry out exploration activities without compromising the interests of other users of the sea and environmental sensitivities.

  Decisions on which blocks can be offered for licence in the 16th round and what conditions will be attached to them will be taken on the basis of consultations with interested parties, including the Joint Nature Conservation Committee and other environmental bodies, about the sensitivities present in individual areas.
  1242
  Mr. Newton
  My hon. Friend may wish to ask the Procedure Committee to look into his suggestion.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Quangos
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade which former hon. Members of this House have been appointed since 1988 by his Department to quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations; and if he will list, in each case, the title of the post, the salary, the duration of the appointment, and the party which each represented as an hon. Member.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The information available is as follows:

  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what environmental criteria will be imposed on licences granted in the 16th round; and what special conditions there will be upon activity which might affect protected areas.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Any environmental conditions applied to blocks offered in round will be consistent with our commitment to protect the environment. As such, we will take account of the views of our consultees in formulating them. In some cases, the conditions may include restrictions on the timing and extent of seismic and drilling activities.

  Nuclear Review
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if there will be a further period of consultation following the publication of the nuclear review.

  Mr. Eggar
  No decisions have yet been taken about publication of the conclusions of the nuclear review. An announcement will be made in due course.

  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he expects to publish the findings of the nuclear review.

  Mr. Eggar
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Sherwood (Mr. Tipping) on 19 October,Official Report, column 239.

  Fluorocarbons
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if it is his policy that refrigeration systems that avoid the use of fluorocarbons are best practice and eligible for inclusion in his Department's best practice or DEMOS programme.
  1243
  Mr. Ian Taylor
  DEMOS—DTI's environmental management options scheme—is no longer open to applications for grant assistance.

  The joint DTI/DoE environmental technology best practice programme aims to promote better environmental performance and to increase the competitiveness of United Kingdom industry and commerce. Emphasis will be on waste minimisation and reducing pollution at source in the manufacturing process. In the selection of projects for inclusion in the programme, preference is given to those lying within the areas to which the programme is currently giving special attention.

  These areas are currently foundries, metal finishing/surface engineering and releases of volatile organic compounds. However, any project encompassing the use of cleaner technology can be considered for inclusion in the programme if it has sufficient merit and satisfies the announced selection criteria, including those relating to potential for stimulating national cost savings.

  Those wishing to propose technologies and techniques to the programme should in the first instance contact the environmental helpline on 0800 585794.

  Wavertree Technology Park
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when an announcement will be made about the application of Sony for regional grant assistance for the development of a site at Wavertree technology park, Liverpool; how many jobs are involved; what representations he has received from hon. Members; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  An announcement will be made shortly. Two hundred and fifty new jobs are involved. The only other representation on this matter, received by my

  Average annual household1 electricity bills in current price terms2

  £ per year

  Regional electricity company

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  East Midlands Electricity

  200

  210

  208

  217

  229

  247

  273

  288

  282

  Eastern Electricity

  193

  200

  196

  208

  222

  241

  266

  279

  281

  London Electricity

  217

  221

  212

  224

  238

  259

  288

  296

  292

  Manweb

  213

  222

  220

  233

  249

  269

  296

  307

  309

  Midlands Electricity

  204

  211

  208

  220

  234

  253

  279

  288

  281

  Northern Electricity

  204

  212

  205

  220

  236

  260

  290

  304

  307

  Norweb

  202

  210

  208

  217

  230

  248

  274

  283

  284

  Seeboard

  205

  210

  205

  218

  233

  252

  279

  290

  285

  South Wales Electricity

  211

  219

  214

  228

  245

  273

  304

  315

  313

  South Western Electricity

  210

  216

  208

  228

  246

  270

  299

  313

  316

  Southern Electric

  194

  200

  196

  213

  230

  249

  275

  287

  283

  Yorkshire

  202

  211

  209

  222

  238

  256

  279

  289

  282

  England and Wales3

  205

  212

  207

  221

  236

  257

  284

  295

  293

  Average annual household1 electricity bills in real (1990) price terms2,4

  £ per year

  Regional electricity company

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  East Midlands Electricity

  262

  266

  251

  247

  244

  247

  257

  259

  246

  Eastern Electricity

  253

  254

  236

  237

  237

  241

  250

  251

  245

  London Electricity

  284

  280

  256

  255

  253

  259

  270

  267

  254

  Manweb

  280

  282

  265

  266

  265

  269

  278

  277

  269

  Midlands Electricity

  268

  268

  251

  251

  249

  253

  262

  260

  244

  1244
  Department has been from the hon. Member for Liverpool, Walton (Mr. Kilfoyle).

  Electricity Disconnections
  Ms Gordon
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many electricity disconnections have been carried out since 1993.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Disconnection figures are kept by the Office of Electricity Regulation. However, I can confirm that 3,297 electricity customers were disconnected in 1993, and for the first six months of 1994, 654 customers were disconnected.

  Departmental Property
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what properties are owned or leased by his Department for the use of Ministers; what was the total running cost for each property for the latest year broken down into(a) furniture and fittings, (b) maintenance, (c) staffing, including the number of butlers, cooks and housekeepers, (d) food and hospitality and (e) other costs; what is the estimated value of each property; and how many times in the latest year the property was stayed in overnight by a Minister.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  None.

  Electricity
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was(a) the average household electricity bill for each of the regional electricity companies for each year since 1985 and (b) the combined average for England and Wales in (i) cash terms and (ii) real terms.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Annual bills for households consuming 3,300 KWh1 of electricity in a year for each regional electricity company in England and Wales are given in the tables.
  1245

  Average annual household1 electricity bills in real (1990) price terms2,4

  £ per year

  Regional electricity company

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  Northern Electricity

  268

  269

  248

  250

  251

  260

  273

  274

  267

  Norweb

  265

  267

  251

  247

  245

  248

  258

  255

  247

  Seeboard

  268

  267

  247

  248

  248

  252

  262

  261

  248

  South Wales Electricity

  277

  278

  258

  260

  261

  273

  285

  284

  272

  South Western Electricity

  276

  274

  251

  259

  262

  270

  280

  282

  275

  Southern Electric

  255

  254

  237

  243

  244

  249

  258

  258

  246

  Yorkshire

  264

  267

  252

  252

  253

  256

  262

  260

  245

  England and Wales3

  268

  269

  250

  251

  251

  257

  266

  266

  255

  Notes:

  13,300 kWh is the average United Kingdom consumption of a household on the standard domestic electricity tariff.

  2No account has been taken of any rebates paid by some electricity companies in recent years nor of discounts for direct debit payments.

  3England and Wales figures are a simple average of the bills of the constituents regional electricity companies.

  4Real prices are the cash figures adjusted to 1990 price levels by excluding the effect of general inflation as measured by the GDP (market prices) deflator.

  Mr Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the President of the board of Trade how many and what percentage of households are currently supplied by each regional electricity company.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The number and percentage of households supplied by each regional electricity company in England and Wales in 1993 are given in the table:

  Regional electricity company

  Number of domestic consumers (thousand)

  Percentage of total domestic consumers

  Eastern Electricity

  2,776·4

  13·3

  East Midlands Electricity

  2,033·1

  9·7

  London Electricity

  1,692·6

  8·1

  Manweb

  1,224·3

  5·8

  Midlands Electricity

  1,990·1

  9·5

  Northern Electricity

  1,322·5

  6·3

  Norweb

  1,942·2

  9·3

  Percentage change on the previous year in average annual household electricity bills in current price terms1,2

  Regional Electricity Company

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  East Midlands Electricity

  +4·8

  -1·0

  +4·4

  +5·9

  +7·7

  +10·6

  +5·3

  -2·0

  Eastern Electricity

  +3·4

  -2·0

  +6·5

  +6·7

  +8·4

  +10·5

  -4·8

  +0·7

  London Electricity

  +1·9

  -4·2

  +5·7

  +6·4

  +8·7

  +11·0

  -3·0

  -1·5

  Manweb

  +4·0

  -1·1

  +6·3

  +6·7

  +8·0

  +10·0

  +3·9

  +0·5

  Midlands Electricity

  +3·5

  -l·6

  +5·9

  +6·4

  +8·1

  +10·4

  +3·3

  -2·7

  Northern Electricity

  +3·7

  -3·1

  +7·1

  +7·2

  +10·4

  +11·6

  +4·8

  +0·7

  Norweb

  +4·0

  -1·2

  +4·5

  +6·0

  +7·9

  +10·4

  +3·2

  +0·2

  Seeboard

  +2·6

  -2·6

  +6·6

  +6·8

  +8·3

  +10·5

  +3·9

  -1·5

  South Wales Electricity

  +3·6

  -2·4

  +6·8

  +7·3

  +11·5

  +1l·l

  +3·9

  -0·8

  South Western Electricity

  +2·7

  -3·7

  +9·5

  +8·0

  +9·8

  +10·5

  +5·0

  +0·8

  Southern Electric

  +3·1

  -2·1

  +8·7

  +7·7

  +8·3

  +10·7

  +4·3

  -1·4

  Yorkshire Electricity

  +4·5

  -1·0

  +6·3

  +7·2

  +7·9

  +9·0

  +3·3

  -2·5

  England and Wales3

  +3·5

  -2·2

  +6·5

  +6·9

  +8·8

  +10·5

  +4·1

  -0·8

  Notes:

  1Based on the assumption that the average household consumes 3,300 kWh of electricity each year.

  2 No account has been taken of any rebates paid by some electricity companies in recent years nor of discounts for direct debit payments.

  3England and Wales figures are based on a simple average of the bills of the constituent regional electricity companies.

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the change in the average household
  1246

  Regional electricity company

  Number of domestic consumers (thousand)

  Percentage of total domestic consumers

  Seeboard

  1,781·3

  8·5

  Southern Electric

  2,313·0

  11·0

  South Wales Electricity

  856·9

  4·1

  South Western Electricity

  1,148·8

  5·5

  Yorkshire Electricity

  1,870·0

  8·9

  Total

  20,951·2

  100·0

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the percentage change in average household electricity bills for each of the regional electricity companies for each year since 1985, and the combined average for England and Wales.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The information requested is as follows:

  electricity bill for each of the regional electricity companies for each year from 1985, and the combined
  1247
  average change each year for England and Wales in (a) cash terms and (b) real terms.

  Change on the previous year in average annual household electricity bills in current price terms1,2

  £

  Regional electricity company

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  East Midlands Electricity

  +10

  -2

  +9

  +13

  +18

  +26

  +14

  -6

  Eastern Electricity

  +7

  -4

  +13

  +14

  +19

  +25

  +13

  +2

  London Electricity

  +4

  -9

  +12

  +14

  +21

  +29

  +9

  -4

  Manweb

  +9

  -2

  +14

  +16

  +20

  +27

  +12

  +1

  Midlands Electricity

  +7

  -3

  +12

  +14

  +19

  +26

  +9

  -8

  Northern Electricity

  +8

  -7

  +15

  +16

  +24

  +30

  +14

  +2

  Norweb

  +8

  -2

  +9

  +13

  +18

  +26

  +9

  +1

  Seeboard

  +5

  +5

  +13

  +15

  +19

  +26

  +11

  -4

  South Wales Electricity

  +8

  -5

  +14

  +17

  +28

  +30

  +12

  -2

  South Western Electricity

  +6

  -8

  +20

  +18

  +24

  +28

  +15

  +3

  Southern Electric

  +6

  -4

  +17

  +16

  +19

  +27

  +12

  -4

  Yorkshire

  +9

  -2

  +13

  +16

  +19

  +23

  +9

  -7

  England and Wales3

  +7

  -5

  +13

  +15

  +21

  +27

  +12

  -2

  Notes:

  1 Based on the assumption that the average household consumes 3,300 kWh of electricity each year.

  2 No account has been taken of any rebates paid by some electricity companies in recent years nor of discounts for direct debit payments.

  3 England and Wales figures are based on a simple average of the bills of the constituent regional electricity companies.

  Change on the previous year in average annual household electricity bills in real (1990) price terms1,2,4

  £

  Regional electricity company

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  East Midlands Electricity

  +4

  -15

  -4

  -3

  +3

  +10

  +2

  -14

  Eastern Electricity

  —

  -17

  +1

  -1

  +4

  +9

  +1

  -7

  London Electricity

  -4

  -25

  -1

  -2

  +6

  +11

  -3

  -13

  Manweb

  +2

  -17

  +1

  -1

  +4

  +9

  -1

  -8

  Midlands Electricity

  —

  -17

  —

  -2

  +4

  +9

  -3

  -15

  Northern Electricity

  +1

  -21

  +3

  —

  +9

  +13

  +1

  -7

  Norweb

  +2

  -16

  -4

  -2

  +4

  +9

  -3

  -8

  Seeboard

  -2

  -20

  +1

  -1

  +5

  +9

  -1

  -12

  South Wales Electricity

  +1

  -20

  +2

  +1

  +13

  +12

  -1

  -12

  South Western Electricity

  -2

  -23

  +8

  +2

  +8

  +10

  +2

  -7

  Southern Electric

  —

  -17

  +6

  +1

  +4

  +10

  —

  -12

  Yorkshire Electricity

  +3

  -15

  +1

  —

  +4

  +6

  -2

  -15

  England and Wales3

  —

  -19

  +1

  —

  +6

  +10

  -1

  -11

  Notes:

  1Based on the assumption that the average household consumes 3,300 kWh of electricity each year.

  2 No account has been taken of any rebates paid by some electricity companies in recent years nor of discounts for direct debit payments.

  3England and Wales figures are based on a simple average of the bills of the constituent regional electricity companies.

  4Real prices are the cash figures adjusted to 1990 price levels by excluding the effect of general inflation as measured by the GDP (market prices) deflator.

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the price charged in pence per kWh by the regional electricity companies to typical standard

  Price of electricity to domestic consumers (p/kWh)1,2

  Regional electricity company

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  East Midlands Electricity

  6.06

  6.35

  6.29

  6.57

  6.95

  7.49

  8.29

  8.72

  8.55

  Eastern Electricity

  5.85

  6.05

  5.93

  6.32

  6.74

  7.31

  8.07

  8.46

  8.52

  London Electricity

  6.58

  6.70

  6.42

  6.79

  7.22

  7.85

  8.71

  8.98

  8.85

  Manweb

  6.47

  6.73

  6.66

  7.07

  7.54

  8.15

  8.97

  9.32

  9.36

  Midlands Electricity

  6.19

  6.40

  6.30

  6.67

  7.09

  7.66

  8.46

  8.74

  8.50

  Northern Electricity

  6.19

  6.42

  6.22

  6.66

  7.15

  7.89

  8.80

  9.23

  9.29

  Norweb

  6.13

  6.38

  6.30

  6.58

  6.98

  7.53

  8.31

  8.58

  8.60

  Seeboard

  6.21

  6.37

  6.20

  6.61

  7.06

  7.65

  8.45

  8.78

  8.65

  South Wales Electricity

  6.41

  6.64

  6.48

  6.92

  7.42

  8.28

  9.20

  9.52

  9.48

  South Western Electricity

  6.37

  6.55

  6.30

  6.90

  7.45

  8.18

  9.05

  9.50

  9.58

  1248
  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The information requested is as follows:

  tariff domestic customers for each year since 1985, and the combined figure for England and Wales.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The information requested is as follows:
  1249

  Price of electricity to domestic consumers (p/kWh)1,2

  Regional electricity company

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  Southern Electric

  5.89

  6.07

  5.94

  6.46

  6.96

  7.53

  8.34

  8.70

  8.58

  Yorkshire Electricity

  6.11

  6.38

  6.32

  6.72

  7.20

  7.77

  8.47

  8.75

  8.53

  England and Wales3

  6.21

  6.43

  6.29

  6.69

  7.15

  7.79

  8.61

  8.95

  8.89

  Notes:

  1 These are current prices, based on standard domestic tariffs and an annual consumption of 3,300 kWh. Standing charges have been taken into account.

  2 No account has been taken of any rebates paid by some electricity companies in recent years nor of discounts for direct debit payments.

  3 England and Wales figures are a weighted average price of the constituent regional electricity companies' prices using average annual bills as weights.

  Receptions
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 27 October,Official Report, column 782, if he will provide a list of names and employers of the people attending the receptions organised by his Department.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The receptions referred to in my previous answer were public events. Attendees were as follows:

  Name

  Employer (at the time of the receptions

  Helen ApSimon

  Imperial College

  Janis Bailey

  Chambernet UK

  Diana Barron

  Enskilda Asset Management

  Sue Birley

  Imperial College

  Moira Black

  Price Waterhouse

  Margaret Boden

  University of Sussex

  Jane Bradford

  Nat West Small Firms Service

  Elaine Brant

  Self Employed

  Gisela Burg

  Expotus Ltd.

  Alison Carnwath

  J. Henry Schroder Wagg

  Paddy Challens

  Kuwait Investment Office

  Shiela Clark

  Packaging Innovation Ltd.

  Janet Cockcroft

  Bottoms Mill Co. Ltd.

  Hilary Cropper

  FI Group plc

  Peggy Czyzak-Dannenbaum

  La Fornaia Ltd.

  Brenda Dean

  Graphical, Paper and Media Union

  Irene Dorner

  Midland Montagu

  Ilana Duncan

  British Gas plc

  Sue Farr

  Thames Television plc

  Amelia Fawcett

  Morgan Stanley International

  Clare Frankl

  Self Employed

  Jackie Gourlay

  Cheval Investment Management Ltd.

  Pamela Gray

  Sphinx Ltd.

  Anne Hacker

  Biocompatables Ltd.

  Jan Hall

  Coley Porter Bell

  Judith Hanratty

  British Petroleum plc

  Pauline Harrison

  University of Sheffield

  Rosaline Hedley-Miller

  Kleinwort Benson Ltd.

  Patricia Hodgson

  BBC

  Sara Holmes-Woodhead

  Ricardo International plc

  Penelope Hughes

  Schweppes Beverages Ltd.

  Jane Irvine

  Post Office

  Catherine James

  Grand Metropolitan plc

  Kate Jenkins

  Self Employed

  Kazimiera Kantor

  Grand Metropolitan plc

  Geraldine Kaye

  Gaaps

  Joanna Kennedy

  Ove Arup and partners

  Pat Kenrick

  Industrial Training Services Ltd.

  Janet Langdon

  GEC Alsthorn

  Eva Lauermann

  British Airways plc

  Alicja Lesniak

  J. Walter Thompson Group Ltd.

  Janet Lewis-Jones

  Self Employed

  Morag Macdonald

  Post Office

  Anna Mann

  Whitehead Mann Group plc

  1250

  Name

  Employer (at the time of the receptions)

  Pat Marsh

  Sandwell College

  Margaret Matheson

  Island World Productions Ltd.

  Christine McNulty

  Applied Futures

  Janet Morgan

  Self Employed

  Gillian Nott

  British Petroleum plc

  Christina Osbourne

  Business Solutions

  Jane Priestman

  Self Employed

  Gail Redwood

  British Airways plc

  Gillian Reynolds

  Lloyds Register of Shipping

  Ann Robinson

  Institute of Directors

  Bridget Rosewell

  Business Strategies Ltd.

  Lynda Rouse

  Barclays de Zoete Wedd Ltd.

  Patricia Scott

  Thorn EMI plc

  Juduth Skiff

  Forum UK

  Sarah Springman

  St Catherines College, Cambridge

  Fiona Steele

  CBI

  Rosemary Thorne

  Sainsbury plc

  Jane Tozer

  Softwright Systems Ltd.

  Claire Tritton

  Severn Trent Council plc

  Anna Vinton

  The Reject Shop plc

  Ann Warner

  University College London

  Mandy Webb

  APV Vent-Axia

  Dorothy Wedderburn

  City of London Polytechnic

  Joy Weston

  Gatwick Airport

  Anne Wright

  Sunderland University

  Ministers

  Gillian Shepherd

  Secretary of State for Employment

  1Baroness Denton

  PUSS Consumer Affairs, DTI

  1Timothy Eggar

  Minister for Energy, DTI

  Tim Sainsbury

  Minister for Industry, DTI

  Richard Needham

  Minister for Trade, DTI

  Neil Hamilton

  PUSS Corportate Affairs, DTI

  Department of Trade and Industry

  Rolande Anderson

  Catherine Bell

  Pauline Birch

  John Cooke

  David Evans

  Rose Ferguson

  Elliot Finer

  Adrian Green

  Colin Hicks

  Valerie Hillman

  Charles Henderson

  Peter Joyce

  Keith Levinson

  Michael Lunn

  William Macintyre

  Alison McMillan1

  Jonathan Phillips1

  Kenneth Poulter

  Robert Priddle

  Christopher Robbins

  Jim Roddie

  1251

  Name

  Employer (at the time of the receptions)

  Arthur Russell

  Paul Salvidge

  Keith Shotton1

  Robin Simpson1

  Stephen Speed

  Jonathon Spencer

  Alec Sugden

  Timothy Walker

  Christopher Wilcock1

  Ann Wilks

  Angie Wilson

  Cabinet Office

  Anthony Merifield

  David Barrows1

  Women's National Commission

  Moira Jones1

  1Attended both receptions.

  Coal Industry
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the consultancies undertaken by Warden Armstrong, mining consultants; what were their terms of reference; when they were started and completed; and at what cost.

  Mr. Eggar
  Wardell Armstrong were engaged from 5 August 1991 to provide advice to the Secretary of State on technical matters, including licensing, in connection with the privatisation of the coal industry. This work is continuing. Details of Wardell Armstrong's fees are commercially confidential.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to publish the bids for the British Coal opencast contract in south Wales.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  British Coal frequently lets contracts to manage various aspects of its opencast coaling operations in South Wales and elsewhere. Publication of bids for such contracts would be a matter for British Coal.

  There are no plans to publish the bids for the sale of the South Wales Regional Coal Company. This information is commercially confidential. It was announced on 12 October that the preferred bidder for South Wales is Celtic Energy.

  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what salaries the part-time members of the coal authority receive.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The part-time members of the Coal Authority receive a salary of £5,500 per annum.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what guidelines or procedures his Department has in place to ensure there are no conflicts of interests between managers at British Coal who manage tenders to the private sector and who subsequently sit on the board of a firm set up to operate such tenders or contracts.

  Mr. Eggar
  This is a matter for British Coal.

  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list for each coal stocking site in the county of Durham the length of planning consents for the stocking of coal, the owners of the sites and the tonnage of coal stocked on each site.
  1252
  Mr. Charles Wardle
  This is a matter for British Coal. However, I understand that the only such site in the county of Durham is the former Easington colliery site.

  Face Paints
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he will revise his Department's procedures for detecting dangerous products, with particular reference to face paints; and if he will ensure that measures are taken to license face paint;

  (2) if he will institute an immediate inquiry into the company selling the children's face paint which has resulted in children in Edinburgh being taken to hospital, with particular reference as to how the product came to be made available; and if he will ensure that his consumer safety unit co-ordinates the recall of all Aqua Fantasy face paint products.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  Face paints for children are subject to the requirements of the Toys (Safety) Regulations 1989, as amended in 1993 and the Cosmetic Products (Safety) Regulations 1989, as amended in 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993 and 1994. These regulations implement EC directives. Day-to-day enforcement of safety legislation is the responsibility of local authority trading standards departments. Trading standards officers have all the necessary powers to enforce safety legislation and to take appropriate action when an unsafe product is found on sale.

  There are no requirements to license face paints but the toys regulations require manufacturers or their authorised representative to maintain a dossier to demonstrate the safety of their products and to make this available to the enforcement authorities on request. A similar provision will be introduced for cosmetics by an amendment to the cosmetics directive.

  The consumer safety unit of my Department is in close contact with the Department of Health and the trading standards administration about the face paints sold under the name of "Aqua Fantasy". It has been established that there are two importers of the products, both of whom are co-operating with trading standards officers in the recall of the products. Tests are also being carried out on the paints to establish whether they meet the safety regulations applicable to them.

  The Department of Health issued a press release on 31 October alerting the public to the dangers associated with the face paints. Information is also being sought from the manufacturer and the United Kingdom importers on the possible causes of the recent accidents given that these products have been on the market for four years.

  Spencer Stuart Consultants
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many contracts his Department or Government agencies responsible to his Department have entered into with Spencer Stuart consultants in the last two years.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The Department is not aware of any contracts for consultancy advice awarded centrally to Spencer Stuart consultants in the last two years. I have asked the chief executives of the agencies to reply direct to this question, as it falls into the category of their day-to-day operational matters. I will arrange for copies of these letters to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Insolvency Service
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what advice he has received on the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations with regard to the Insolvency Service.

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  No decision to contract out work of official receivers has yet been taken.

  In the circumstances it is far too early to consider the issue of Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations, the implications of which may not become clear until the nature of proposals in any bidding process could be assessed.

  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish the full Stoy Hayward report on the privatisation of the Insolvency Service.

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  Stoy Hayward's report has been published by placing copies in the Libraries of the House and DTI library. The published version of the report does not include the appendices produced by the consultants as these contain financial information which is commercially confidential.

  Easington Colliery
  Mr. Cummings
  To as the President of the Board of Trade what discussions he has had with the various interested bodies on the future development of the Easington colliery site.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  This is a matter for British Coal. I understand that British Coal, which occupies the site under a long lease, is currently in discussion with the freeholder over the future of the site.

  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the President of the board of Trade when he expects the coal at present stocked on the Easington colliery site to be sold or removed.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  This is a matter for British Coal.

  Monopolies and Mergers Commission
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will ensure that Sir Peter Levene will not be involved in discussions of references to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  Decisions on references of mergers to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission are for my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade, after receiving independent advice from the Director General of Fair Trading. Anyone may put views to the Director General on possible references. In reaching his decision, the President takes great care to ensure that no conflicts of interest arise. He will naturally not discuss with Sir Peter Levene any case in which there might be such a conflict.

  Bankruptcy
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what legal advice he has received on the impact that privatisation could have on future disqualification of bankrupts.

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  Stoy Hayward Consulting reported that the contracting out of official receivers' case administration work would enable official receivers to concentrate more on their investigative role and I have 1254
  not been advised that contracting out would have any impact on the Insolvency Service's disqualification effort.

  Nolan Committee
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make it his policy to make available to the Nolan committee documents held by his Department on British-registered companies with which Ministers of former Ministers of Her Majesty's Government had a business involvement before becoming Government Ministers after they had entered Parliament.

  Mr. Heseltine
  I shall write to the hon. Gentleman as soon as possible.

  Al-Bilad (UK) Ltd.
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will institute an investigation into the trading activities of Al-Bilad (UK) Ltd.

  Mr. Heseltine
  I shall write to the hon. Gentleman as soon as possible.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish an up-to-date list of all the chairs and non-executive directors of each national health service trust board indicating the gender and occupation of each individual.

  Mr. Moss
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Member for Devizes (Mr. Ancram) to the hon. Member for Dunfermline, West (Ms Squire) on 17 October,Official Report, column 88.

  Agricultural Development Operational Programme
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many claims are still outstanding in respect of the agricultural development operational programme; how long on average they are outstanding; and what arrangements he is making for urgent payment.

  Mr. Ancram
  My hon. Friend Baroness Denton will write to the hon. Gentleman.

  Departmental Property
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what properties are owned or leased by his Department for the use of Ministers; what was the total running cost for each property for the latest year available broken down into(a) furniture and fittings, (b) maintenance, (c) staffing, including the number of butlers, cooks and, housekeepers, (d) food and hospitality and (e) other costs; what is the estimated value of each property; and how many times in the latest year the property was stayed in overnight by a Minister.

  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Spencer Stuart Consultants
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many contracts his Department or Government agencies responsible to his Department have
  1255
  entered into with Spencer Stuart consultants in the last two years.

  Sir John Wheeler
  Our records show that Spencer Stuart consultants were not employed by any of the Northern Ireland Departments or agencies during the financial year 1992–93 and 1993–94.

  Student Accommodation
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what inspection and supervision of student accommodation in the private sector is carried out by

  1 April 1992– 30 September 1993 £

  1 October 1993– 31 December 1993 £

  1 January 1994– 30 June 1994 £

  Total Consultancy Costs

  278,900

  56,000

  283,600

  Other Departmental Costs

  144,300

  181,300

  431,500

  Total

  423,200

  237,300

  715, l00

  Prison Service
  Mr. Ellestson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has for the future management of the Northern Ireland Prison Service.

  Sir John Wheeler
  Following completion of a prior options study into the future management of the Northern Ireland Prison Service, the Government have decided that the service should now begin preparations to become a next steps agency on 1 April 1995. That will give the service greater freedom to manage its resources within a framework which sets out its responsibilities, targets and appropriate performance measures. The Prison Service will continue to be accountable to my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State.

  Military Complaints Procedures
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what response he has received from the General Officer Commanding Northern Ireland to the recommendations contained in the first annual report of the independent assessor of military complaints procedures.

  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  I have received a detailed reply from the General Officer Commanding, Sir Roger Wheeler, to the proposals contained in David Hewitt's first annual report. I very much welcome the positive response from the GOC, which states that he will be able to adopt five of the seven recommendations and all 11 suggestions made by Mr. Hewitt.

  I wish to pay due credit to the complaints procedures operated by the army in Northern Ireland, which have helped to establish and maintain a good and improving relationship with the community. The GOC has made it clear to me that procedures are constantly reviewed so that improvements can be made where necessary, and Mr. Hewitt's proposals will play a central part in this. Both the GOC and I look forward to receiving his continued suggestions and advice.
  1256
  university representatives in respect of students living away from home; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ancram
  I will write to the hon. Gentleman.

  Market Testing
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his current calculation of the costs of preparation for market testing in his Department in terms of(a) payments to consultants and (b) other costs.

  Sir John Wheeler
  The costs shown in the table are a cumulative total of the costs incurred by the Northern Ireland civil service departments and the Northern Ireland Office in support of the delivery of the competing for quality programme.

PRIME MINISTER

  Media and Broadcasting
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Prime Minister which individual or institution will receive from the President of the EU Parliament the resolution of the EU Parliament on media ownership.

  The Prime Minister
  The President of the European Parliament will submit the resolution on the Commission Green Paper"Pluralism and Media Concentration on the Internal Market" to the Commission and the Council.

  Book Purchase
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) if he will obtain for the 10 Downing street library, a copy of a recently published book details of which have been supplied to him; and if he will seek clarification from the United States Government regarding the references to it therein;

  (2) if he will instigate an investigation into matters in the letter from the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent on 26 October.

  The Prime Minister
  I have not seen the book referred to. If I have anything to add at a later stage, I will write to the hon. Member.

  The Guardian Newspaper
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Prime Minister when the Cabinet Secretary first knew of the alleged use of House of Commons notepaper by The Guardian newspaper to obtain information about the hotel bill of the right hon. Member for Thanet, South (Mr. Aitken); when the Prime Minister was informed; and what steps he took to bring the matter to the attention of the House authorities.

  The Prime Minister
  The matter first came to the attention of my right hon. Friend, the Member for Thanet, South following the publication of an article in The Guardian on 10 May 1994; he reported it to me and the Cabinet Secretary on 11 May 1994.
  1257
  My right hon. Friend considered raising a complaint immediately but decided not to pursue the matter at that time. What has since been revealed is that the forgery was part of a concerted attempt to cover up collusion.

  Engagements
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 3 November.

  Sir Peter Tapsell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 3 November.

  The Prime Minister
  I will be presiding at a meeting of the Cabinet and having meetings with ministerial colleagues and others.

  Departmental Property
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Prime Minister what properties are owned or leased by his Office for the use of Ministers; what was the total running cost for each property for the latest year available broken down into(a) furniture and fittings, (b) maintenance, (c) staffing, including the number of butlers, cooks and housekeepers, (d) food and hospitality and (e) other costs; what is the estimated value of each property; and how many times in the latest year the property was stayed in overnight by a Minister.

  The Prime Minister
  None.

  Spencer Stuart Consultants
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Prime Minister how many contracts his Department or Government agencies responsible to his Department have entered into with Spencer Stuart consultants in the last two years.

  The Prime Minister
  So far as I am aware, none.

  Police Finances
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Prime Minister which Department of State is responsible for(a) setting and (b) publishing standard spending assessments regarding police force areas in (i) England and (ii) Wales.

  The Prime Minister
  The Department of the Environment for England, and the Welsh Office for Wales, are responsible for setting and publishing the standard spending assessments for all local authorities.

  In England, there is a distinct component of the SSA for police; this is prepared in discussion with the Home Office. In Wales, there is no such distinct component, but the SSAs for county councils include provision for the police service.

  Nolan Committee
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister if allegations of illegal donations to the election funds of political parties are to be brought to the attention of Lord Nolan's committee on the standards of conduct in public life.

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Meirionnyddd Nant Conwy (Mr. Llwyd) on 31 October 1994,Official Report, column 911.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister what remuneration will be received by each member of the Nolan committee in regard to their time commitments;1258
  what expenses are to be made available to members of the Committee; for what duration each committee member is appointed; and from what budget administrative and support resources for the Nolan committee will be drawn.

  The Prime Minister
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Lobbying Organisations
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) on what occasions in the past two years he has acceded to requests from former Ministers to meet or otherwise contact lobbying companies; and what guidance he gives to former Ministers as to what services they may offer to such companies;

  (2) what lobbying organisations he has met over the last year; and on what dates he met representatives of each organisation.

  The Prime Minister
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Ministers (Remunerated Employment)
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Prime Minister which Ministers pursue remunerated employment outside their ministerial duties; and if he will list in each case the employment, how much time is spent on it, and what financial gain the Minister receives from it.

  The Prime Minister
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Member for Norfolk, South
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) what advice the right hon. Member for Norfolk, South (Mr. MacGregor), while acting as Secretary of State for Transport gave to the British Railways Board in connection with the employment of Hill Samuel to provide advice on its disposal programme; and on what date;

  (2) pursuant to his answer of 31 October, Official Report, column 914, if he will now state the date on which the right hon. Member for Norfolk, South (Mr. MacGregor) indicated his intention to leave the
  Government;

  (3) if Messrs Hill Samuel paid pension contributions on behalf of the right hon. Member for Norfolk, South (Mr. MacGregor) during his period of ministerial office or any part thereof; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Council of Europe
  Mr. Duncan
  To ask the Prime Minister what changes he has made to the composition of the United Kingdom delegation to the 1994 session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

  The Prime Minister
  My hon. Friend, the Member for Poole (Mr. Ward), has resigned as a full member of the delegation, following his appointment as my parliamentary private secretary, and has been replaced by my hon. Friend, the Member for Reading, West (Sir A. Durant), who is currently a substitute member. My hon. Friend, the Member for Sheffield, Hallam (Sir I. Patnick), will be appointed as a substitute member of the delegation in place of my hon. Friend, the Member for Reading, West. These changes take effect from today.

  Al Yamamah Agreement
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) if he will ensure that Mr. Christopher Prentice, a Foreign Office diplomat working at the British embassy in Washington in the mid-1980s, is interviewed about the Yamamah deal.

  (2) pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Workington (Mr. Campbell-Savours) of 25 October, Official Report, column 520, regarding the Al Yamamah agreement, if he will set out the nature of the errors to which he refers.

  The Prime Minister
  I will write to the hon. Member.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Probate
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department (1) if he will introduce legislation to enable banks and other institutions in England and Wales to comply with instructions on the disposal of assets from a person granted probate under the law of Scotland without the need for the grant to be resealed under the law of England and Wales;

  (2) whether a grant for a registrar in Scotland under rule 19 of the Non-contentious Probate Rules 1987, may have effect in England and Wales if it has not been resealed by the English courts;

  (3) if he will introduce legislation to enable banks in England and Wales to release money from a bank account to a person or persons granted probate by the crown courts to administer the estate of a deceased person holding that account without a need for the grant to be resealed by a court in England and Wales.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Administration of Estates Act 1971 already makes provision for the reciprocal recognition in any one part of the United Kingdom of grants and confirmations issued in any other part, without the need for resealing.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department whether Scotland is regarded as a foreign country for the purposes of rule 19 of the Non-Contentious Probate Rules 1987; and whether the registrar may accept under sub-paragraph(a) an affidavit as to the law of Scotland from a person who is not a notary practising in Scotland.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  For the purposes of rule 19, "foreign law" includes the law of any part of the United Kingdom other than England and Wales. By virtue of the Civil Evidence Act 1972, it is not necessary for a witness giving evidence of foreign law to be a practitioner of the system of law in question, provided he is otherwise suitably qualified to do so.

  Departmental Property
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what properties are owned or leased by the Department for the use of Ministers; what was the total running cost for each property for the latest year available broken down into(a) furniture and fittings, (b) maintenance, (c) staffing, including the number of butlers and cooks and housekeepers, (d) food and hospitality and (e) other costs; what is the estimated value
  1260
  of each property; and how many times in the latest year the property was stayed in overnight by a Minister.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Excluding Departmental offices, the Lord Chancellor's Department has no properties which are owned or leased for the use of Ministers.

  Legal Aid
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will identify individuals who have received more than £1 million from the legal aid fund towards their legal costs in the past 10 years; what has been the total amount paid in each case; and what was the nature of the legal proceedings.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  I regret that it has not been possible to provide an answer before prorogation. I shall write to the hon. Member and place a copy of the letter in the Library.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department (1) if he will list by region the number of fraudulent legal aid claims by solicitors for the period 1992–93 and 1993–94;

  (2) what percentage of total moneys paid out by the legal aid fund in each region relate to fraudulent claims by solicitors in the last three years;

  (3) how many cases of possible fraudulent claims for legal aid are being investigated by him in each region.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department in how many civil cases in 1993–94 both parties were in receipt of legal aid.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  This information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans the Government have to improve control of the green form scheme.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The green form scheme is an important means of access to legal advice for people on low incomes. In 1993–94, over 1,600,000 people received help from the green form scheme. Over recent months however the Government and the Legal Aid board have become increasingly concerned about the opportunities for abuse which exist in the scheme.

  As a result, the Legal Aid board has conducted an internal review of its systems for detecting fraud and abuse of the green form scheme, and has put in place a number of administrative changes designed to ensure that suspect claims under the green form scheme are speedily detected and acted upon.

  In addition, the Legal Aid board has, with the Government's support, proposed a number of other changes to the green form scheme:

  i) that there should be a new, more detailed, green form claims form to be used by solicitors who are not franchised by the Legal Aid board;

  ii) that a solicitor should be required to seek prior authority from the Legal Aid board before giving advice under more than one green form to the same client within any period of 12 months;

  iii) that the Legal Aid board's powers for dealing with cases where fraud or breaches of the legal aid regulations are suspected should be clarified in regulations.

  1261
  The Legal Aid board is at present consulting the Law Society on the details of these changes. Subject to the outcome of that consultation, the necessary regulations to make these changes will be laid before Parliament as soon as possible.

  Spencer Stuart Consultants
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many contracts his Department or Government agencies responsible to his Department have entered into with Spencer Stuart consultants in last two years.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  There is no record of any contract being entered into with Spencer Stuart consultants in the last two years.

  Small Claims
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to alter the small claims procedure to enable a plaintiff to recover solicitors' costs from the defendant.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Deaths in Custody
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to extend legal aid to allow the families of those who have died whilst in custody to be represented at inquests.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  None. However, subject to financial eligibility, legal advice and assistance may be sought before the hearing from a solicitor under the green form scheme.

ENVIRONMENT

  SSSIs
  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about threats to Britain's sites of special scientific interest.

  Mr. Atkins
  The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 provides a sound basis for the protection of sites of special scientific interest. Some 6,700 SSSIs have now been notified throughout Britain. This affords protection to the habitats of key species of flora and fauna and to a range of the main geological and landform features. In addition, in the determination of development proposals, the land use planning system takes careful account of nature conservation interests.

  Local Government Reorganisation
  Mr. Frank Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether all contracts entered into by local authorities, before reorganisation in accordance with Local Government Commission recommendations, will be fully honoured following implementation of Local Government Commission proposals; and whether the rights of employees will be fully protected.

  Mr. Curry
  Contracts of employment will transfer to the successor authority for all staff who transfer by statutory transfer order or under TUPE regulations. Transfer of rights and liabilities concerning contracts and 1262
  property is currently the subject of consultation by my Department. We are also consulting on the implications of local government reorganisation for compulsory competitive tendering.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the estimated cost to date of the review of local government in England.

  Mr. Curry
  The Local Government Commission for England incurred expenditure of £2.056 million in 1992–93 and £5.146 million in 1993–94. We are making available grant in aid of some £8.300 million to the Commission for 1994–95.

  We do not have overall figures for the expenditure incurred indirectly by central Government, or directly by local authorities, on the local government review.

  Capital Receipts
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the amount of capital receipts accumulated by local authorities in England at the latest date for which information is available.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  Returns to the Department show that about £1.9 billion of usable capital receipts were held by authorities at 1 April 1994.

  New Home Completions
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many new homes were completed by local authorities in England in 1978–79 and 1993–94; and how many he expects will be completed in 1994–95 and 1995–96.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  Housing associations are now the main providers of new social housing. Local authorities' primary housing tasks are the efficient management of their own stock of housing and enabling other organisations to provide new housing.

  Local authorities in England completed 76,494 new dwellings during the financial year 1978–79; new towns completed a further 7,984 dwellings. Local authorities completed 1,387 new dwellings during 1993–94.

  The Department does not forecast the number of new dwellings to be built by local authorities.

  Departmental Property
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what properties are owned or leased by his Department for the use of Ministers; what was the total running cost for each property for the latest year available broken down into(a) furniture and fittings, (b) maintenance, (c) staffing, including the number of butlers, cooks and housekeepers, (d) food and hospitality and (e) other costs; what is the estimated value of each property; and how many times in the latest year the property was stayed in overnight by a Minister.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Excluding departmental offices, the Department of the Environment does not own or lease any apartments for the use of DOE Ministers.

  Dioxins
  Ms Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if his Department has now had time to consider the United States Environmental Protection Agency's report on dioxins; and what account will be
  1263
  taken of the decisions to license the burning of recycled liquid fuel in cement kilns in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Atkins
  The US Environmental Protection Agency's report, although both detailed and in parts highly technical, is still a preliminary draft, issued for public comment. It does not represent EPA policy. Its content and findings will be revised during the coming year in the light of comments received. The Government are studying the draft report, and intend to complete their own preliminary assessment of it by the end of this year. The Government will also seek the advice of the chief medical officer about the implications of this report, any decisions taken in the light of this assessment and the advice of the chief medical officer, will apply to all processes which might produce dioxins.

  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to modify his Department's policy on encouraging waste to energy incinerators following the recent report by the United States Environmental Protection Agency on the health effects of dioxins; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  The US Environmental Protection Agency's report is a preliminary draft issued for public comment and its contents and findings will be revised during the coming year in the light of comments received. The Government are studying the draft report carefully and intend to complete their own preliminary assessment of it by the end of the year.

  In their response to the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution's report on incineration of waste, the Government have already given a public assurance that, in deciding their policy on the use of incineration for waste disposal, they will take into account the advice of the chief medical officer on the implications of this and other major dioxin studies.

  Water Bills
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what was the average household bill for unmetered water and sewerage for each water company for each year since 1985, and the combined average for England and Wales in(a) cash and (b) real terms;

  (2) what was the percentage change in average household water and sewerage bills for each water company for each year since 1985, and the combined average change for England and Wales;

  (3) what was the change in the average household water and sewerage bill for each water and sewerage company for each year since 1985, and the combined average rise each year for England and Wales in (a) cash and (b) real terms;

  (4) what was the change in the average household water and sewerage bill for each water company for each year since 1985, and the combined average change each year for England and Wales in (a) cash and (b) real terms;

  (5) what was the average household bill for unmetered water and sewerage for each water and sewerage company for each year since 1985, and the combined average for England and Wales in (a) cash and (b) real terms;

  (6) what was the percentage change in average household water and sewerage charges for each water and sewerage company for each year since 1985, and combined average for England and Wales.
  1264
  Mr. Atkins
  Information on individual water company and water and sewerage company charges since 1985 is contained in "The Water Industry: United Kingdom Services and Cost and Charges for Service", published annually by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, and the "The United Kingdom Water Industry: Charges for Water Services", published annually by the Centre for the Study of Regulated Industries, copies of which are available in the Library.

  European Administration
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information his Department holds about the introduction of European departments, European officers and offices in Brussels or Strasbourg by district, county and metropolitan councils; and if he will publish this information together with an estimate of the number of people employed and the costs incurred.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  My Department does not hold such information.

  Spencer Stuart Consultants
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many contracts his Department or Government agencies responsible to his Department have entered into with Spencer Stuart consultants in the last two years.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  To the best of my knowledge, there have been no contracts that this Department, or Government agencies responsible to it, have entered into with Spencer Stuart consultants in the last two years.

  Water Supplies
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many and what percentage of households are supplied by each of the water companies;

  (2) how many, and what percentage of households are supplied by each of the water and sewerage companies.

  Mr. Atkins
  Information about the number of households supplied by water companies and water and sewerage companies is to be found in"Waterfacts", published annually by the Water Services Association, copies of which are available in the Library.

  Public Investment Projects
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how much private capital has been invested in public investment projects within his Department's responsibility since the 1992 autumn statement;

  (2) if he will list those public investment projects within his Department's responsibility which have attracted private capital and which have been commenced since November 1993.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  It is not practicable to list individually the very large number of public projects which have benefited from private investment over the last two years. However, the Department and its sponsored bodies attracted some £3 billion of private investment in support of departmental programmes in 1993–94, and similarly expect to lever in over £3 billion of private funding in 1994–95. In addition, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment
  1265
  announced on 31 October further proposals to make it easier for local authorities to co-operate in joint ventures with the private sector. A summary of the proposals, which we aim to implement with effect from 1 April 1995, has been placed in the Library.

  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 31 October,Official Report, column 972–73, if he will place in the Library the submission made to him on water charging systems by the water services and water companies associations.

  Mr. Atkins
  It is for the two associations to decide whether they wish to make public the contents of their letter to my right hon. Friend.

  Housing (Multiple Occupation)
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate (1)(a) how many hostels exist in England and Wales, (b) how many people live in these hostels and (c) how many of these people are on housing benefits;

  (2) how many people live in houses in multiple occupation of the type described in section 345 of the Housing Act 1985; how many of these are on housing benefit; how many of these are students; and how many of these are families with children;

  (3) how many houses in multiple occupation are estimated to exist under the present definition contained in section 345 of the Housing Act 1985.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  A Department of the Environment survey of local authorities estimated that in England and Wales in 1983–84 there were between 1.25 and 2 million people living in houses in multiple occupation. There is no information available on how many of these people receive housing benefit or how many are students or families with children.

  The definition of a house in multiple occupation in section 345 of the Housing Act 1985, as amended, is wide; it is a house or flat which is occupied by persons who do not form a single household, so there is therefore no simple way of identifying those properties. However, the English house condition survey 1991 estimated the following:

  Number

  Bedsits

  75,000

  Sheltered accommodation & hostels

  51,000

  Shared houses

  220,000

  Households with lodgers

  213,000

  Total

  559,000

  The information is not complete, however, as other types of accommodation which could fall within the definition of houses in multiple occupation, such as converted owner-occupied flats and bed and breakfast accommodation, are not included. There is no further specific information about hostels.

  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many houses in multiple occupation fall under the high risk category in respect of fire safety.

  Mr. Curry
  Taking high risk to imply large houses in multiple occupation of at least three storeys with a gross floor area of at least 500 sq m, for which local authorities have a mandatory duty to ensure that there are adequate 1266
  means of escape from fire, research carried out by the Campaign for Bedsit Rights estimated that 8 per cent. of houses in multiple occupation were in this category.

  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many people were killed and injured in houses in multiple occupation in(a) 1992–93 and (b) 1993–94 as defined in section 345 of the Housing Act 1985.

  Mr. Curry
  Statistics are available only for death or injury from fire in England and Wales. The Home Office statistics do not correlate exactly with the definition of houses in multiple occupation in section 345 of the Housing Act 1985. However, the best estimate for multi-occupied houses, excluding shared houses—that is, by students or families taking in lodgers—is as follows:

  Deaths from fire in England and Wales, 1987–1992

  Year

  Multiple Occupancy Houses

  All Hotels/Boarding Houses

  All Hostels

  1987

  80

  9

  —

  1988

  72

  6

  —

  1989

  77

  5

  2

  1990

  61

  1

  —

  1991

  44

  3

  1

  1992

  76

  6

  1

  Non-Fatal Casualties from Fires in England and Wales, 1987–1992

  Year

  Multiple Occupancy Houses

  All Hotels/Boarding Houses

  All Hostels

  1987

  1,199

  77

  40

  1988

  1,052

  125

  53

  1989

  1,100

  106

  93

  1990

  1,182

  137

  59

  1991

  1,214

  118

  67

  1992

  1,320

  101

  47

  Performance Indicators
  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance his Department gives to local authorities on the advertising of their performance indicators; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  My Department gives no such guidance. Within the statutory framework including directions issued by the Audit Commission under section 1 of the Local Government Act 1992, the publication of performance indicator information is a matter for individual local authorities. To assist authorities, the Audit Commission has published this year guidance in its booklet "Read All About It".

  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the costs to local government of the publishing of performance indicators in newspapers.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  As was said at the time that the legislation requiring the publication of performance indicators was sought, the publication is not expected to cause any significant increase in costs to local authorities, and any initial costs incurred by them are likely to be offset by longer-term efficiency savings arising due to performance indicators.

  Flooding
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many houses in each water company area in England are at risk of flooding.

  Mr. Atkins
  That information is not collected centrally either by my Department or by that of my right hon. Friend the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, who has policy responsibility for flood defence matters.

  Dentists (Pollution)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the pollutionary consequences of dentists washing materials containing mercury and other heavy metals down washbasins; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  A provisional estimate of one tonne per year of mercury going to sewer from dental clinics has been suggested on the basis of a limited study of inputs of heavy metals to sewers published in June 1994. Two other on-going research projects, aimed specifically at examining emissions of mercury to the environment, should provide additional information on the possible significance of this source.

  High Voltage Power Lines
  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what assistance his Department is giving to local authority associations to research into health risks in the development of domestic properties close to high voltage power lines; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what advice he gives to local authorities considering planning applications for development of domestic properties close to high voltage power lines; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Responsibility for advising on radiological matters, including exposure to electromagnetic fields from high voltage electricity cables, rests with the National Radiological Protection Board. The NRPB undertakes research and has issued guidance about known health risks with which electricity supply companies comply.

  Medomsley Prison
  Ms Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has been notified by the Home Office of the objections from Derwentside district council, local residents and the hon. Member of Durham, North West to the proposed secure unit on the site of the former Medomsley prison.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  No.

  Market Testing
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his current calculation of the costs of preparation for market testing in his Department in terms of(a) payments to consultants and (b) other costs.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  As at 30 June 1994, the total cost of external consultancy fees paid by the Department in preparation for and in support of market testing both internally and in its agencies, amounted to £1.1 million.
  1268
  Expenditure on other market testing costs for the same period amounted to £2·5 million.

  Leeds Development Corporation
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment to whom members of the public should apply for information about the audited financial decisions of the Leeds development corporation.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Copies of the annual report and audited financial statements of the Leeds development corporation are available from the chief executive of the corporation, South Point, South Accommodation road, Leeds LS10 1PP.

  Retired Caravaners' Association
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what considerations underlay his refusal of the request of the Retired Caravaners' Association to be granted concessions under the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960.

  Mr. Atkins
  We grant exemptions under paragraph 4 of schedule 1 of the 1960 Act only to a few large, national organisations with sufficient standing to prove their administrative capability. Following consultation with the Association of District Councils, the Association of County Councils, the Association of Metropolitan Authorities, the National Caravan Council, the British Holiday and Home Parks Association, the Caravan Club, the Camping and Caravaning Club, the Motor Caravaner's Club, the Association of Caravan and Camping Exempted Organisations and the Welsh Office, it was decided that the Retired Caravaners' Association does not meet all the criteria. It is open to the association to apply for membership to the Association of Caravan and Camping Exempted Organisations, which enjoys exemption for extended rallies.

  Police Forces
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what considerations underlie the policy of providing a list of standard spending assessments for police forces in England but not Wales.

  Mr. Curry
  In England, the total of standard spending assessments is sub-divided among the main blocks of services. There is a separate SSA formula for each block. In Wales, the total of SSAs is not at present divided among blocks of services, but the SSAs for county councils in Wales include provision for the police service.

  Housing, Basildon
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many(a) council houses and (b) New Town Commission houses have been sold in Basildon since (i) 1983 and (ii) 1979.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  I shall write to the hon. Member.

HEALTH

  Staff Cuts
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the ratio of the planned staff cuts at regional health
  1269
  authorities as a percentage of the total number of extra management and administrative staff in the national health service since April 1991.

  Mr. Malone
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  General Practitioners
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what incentive plans she has for the recruitment and retention of high quality GPs in London.

  Mr. Malone
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Minimum Wage
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is her estimated financial effect on the national health service of a minimum wage of(a) £3.50 an hour and (b) £4.05 an hour.

  Mr. Malone
  No such estimate has been made.

  NHS Salary Costs
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 24 October,Official Report, column 451, if she will provide a table listing the total salary costs for (a) general and senior managers, (b) administrative and clerical staff and (c) nursing and midwifery staff in each region for each of the past five years (i) in actual prices and (ii) in 1993 prices.

  Mr. Malone
  The information available will be placed in the Library. Information for 1993–94 is not available until December 1994.

  Quangos
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which former hon. Members of this House have been appointed since 1988 by her Department to quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations; and if she will list, in each case, the title of the post, the salary, the duration of each appointment and the party which each represented as an hon. Member.

  Mr. Sackville
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 20 July 1993,Official Report, column 110 with the following additions:

  National Health Service Authorities and Trusts

  Member

  Mrs. R. Barnes

  Re-appointed as Director, Greenwich Healhcare NHS trust, 1 November 1994–31 October 1998. (Social Democratic Party)

  Lord Jenkin of Roding

  Re-appointed as Chairman, Forest Healthcare Trust, 1 December 1993–30 November 1997. (Conservative)

  Sir David Price

  Re-appointed as Director, Southampton university Hospital NHS Trust, 1 November 1994–31 October 1996. (Conservative)

  Mr. A. Favell

  Appointed as Chairman, Tameside and Glossop Acute Service NHS Trust, 1 November 1993–31 October 1997. (Conservative)

  1270

  National Health Service Authorities and Trusts

  Member

  Mrs. M. Hicks

  Appointed as Director, South Warwickshire Mental Health Services NHS Trust, 23 February NHS Trust, 23 February 1994–31
  October 1995. (Conservative)

  Chairman of district health authorities and National Health Service trusts are currently remunerated at between £15,125 and £19,285 a year. Non-executive directors of NHS trusts receive £5,000 a year.

  Non-Departmental Public Bodies

  Member

  Mrs. R. Barnes

  Appointed as Member, Gene Therapy Advisory committee, 15 November 93–15 November 96. (Social Democratic Party) paid £128 per meeting plus expenses.

  Mr. J. Wellbeloved

  Re-appointed as Member, Unrelated Live Transplant Regulatory Authority, 1 April 94–31 March 96. (Labour) Paid expenses Only.

  Dr. Clive Froggatt
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if she will list the dates on which she has met Dr. Clive Froggatt of Chelthenham since her appointment as Secretary of State for Health;

  (2) in what capacities Dr. Clive Froggatt of Cheltenham has provided advice to the NHS Executive, the Department of Health or to Health Ministers personally; and whether he was paid for this advice;

  (3) what official committees of the NHS Executive or the Department of Health, Dr. Clive Froggatt is, or has been, a member; and what dates he served on them.

  Mr. Sackville
  There is no record of Dr. Clive Froggatt serving on any official committees of the national health service executive or the Department of Health.

  Dr. Froggatt has on occasion given unpaid advice to successive Health Ministers. The dates when such advice was given are not recorded.

  Remand (Juveniles)
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many juveniles have been remanded in prison due to lack of secure accommodation in the last five years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Bowis
  This information is not available centrally.

  Secure Accommodation
  Mr. Cyril D. Townsend
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when there will be sufficient secure accommodation for juvenile offenders in Greater London.

  Mr. Bowis
  The provision of secure accommodation for young people whom they are looking after, including juvenile offenders, is the responsibility of individual local authorities.

  The Government have made capital funds available to build an additional 170 secure places nationally for

  1271
  criminal justice purposes. Sixteen of those places are to be provided within Greater London by the London borough of Southwark. London boroughs may also have access to additional places being planned by authorities around London, including a new 16—place unit by Essex county council.

  Departmental Property
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what properties are owned or leased by her Department for the use of Ministers; what was the total running cost for each property for the latest year available broken down into(a) furniture and fittings, (b) maintenance, (c) staffing, including the number of butlers, cooks and housekeepers, (d) food and hospitality and (e) other costs; what is the estimated value of each property; and how many times in the latest year the property was stayed in overnight by a Minister.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Department does not own or lease properties for the use of Ministers. The only departmental accommodation used by Ministers is their offices in Richmond house, Whitehall which are provided for their official duties.

  Patients
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 24 October,Official Report, column 449, if she will itemise, by family health service authority, the number of patients removed from general practitioner's lists during each of the last five years.

  Mr. Malone
  Information for all family health services authorities is available only for the year 1992–93 and will be placed in the Library. Data for 1993–94 are being collected. General practitioners have always had the right, subject to necessary safeguards, to remove patients from their list without giving a reason. Patients also have the right to withdraw from a doctor's list without giving reasons.

  Public Investment Projects
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if she will list those public investment projects within her Department's responsibility which have attracted private capital and which have been commenced since November 1993;

  (2) how much private capital has been invested in public investment projects within her Department's responsibility since the 1992 autumn statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  Since the private finance initiative was launched in November 1992, 35 projects have been approved, each with a capital value of £1 million or over. These would bring in private sector capital worth over £90 million to the national health service. Details of the 35 projects are available in the Library.

  No information is available on projects with a capital value below £1 million because they do not need central approval.

  Information on which projects have been commenced since November 1993 is not available. The information in the Library shows the current status of projects.

  Hospital for Tropical Diseases
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what response she has made to the request from the Hospital for Tropical Diseases that it should move to facilities under the control of the University College hospital trust; and when she expects a decision to be finalised.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Hospital for Tropical Diseases is a constituent part of University College London hospitals national health service trust. Proposals by the trust to relocate the services of the Hospital for Tropical Diseases to the Middlesex and University College hospitals have been considered by the North Thames regional office of the NHS Executive. It has been decided, in agreement with the trust, to postpone the proposed move of the hospital pending the outcome of the option appraisal for the whole trust.

  Obsessive Compulsive Disorders
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what treatment units there are operating in the NHS to treat obsessive compulsive disorders.

  Mr. Bowis
  Treatment for those suffering from obsessive compulsive disorders is available as part of the provision of general mental health services.

  Spencer Stuart Consultants
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many contracts her Department or Government agencies responsible to her Department have entered into with Spencer Stuart consultants in the last two years.

  Mr. Sackville
  We have no record of any contracts between the Department of Health or its agencies and Spencer Stuart consultants.

  Disciplinary Suspensions
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) doctors, (b) nurses and (c) consultants (i) are currently suspended on pay from their duties for disciplinary reasons, (ii) were suspended on pay in each of the last five years from their duties for disciplinary reasons and (iii) were suspended before their case was heard for (a) less than three months, (b) between three and six months, (c) between six and 12 months and (d) over 12 months; and what is and was the cost of (i) and (ii) including temporary or locum replacement.

  Mr. Malone
  We do not collect such information. Decisions, including possible suspensions, rest with the employing authority.

  Health Commissions
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the new health commissions that have been formed as a result of the merger of health authorities and family health service authorities.

  Mr. Malone
  None.

  Hospital Consultants
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 9 May,Official Report, columns 1–2, if she will update the table on vacant hospital consultant posts.
  1273
  Mr. Malone
  The information is shown in the table.

  Because these are consultant vacancies notified to the Department as at 30 September of each year, they may not fairly reflect the trend for the number of vacancies over the year as a whole.

  Vacant hospital consultant posts by specialty group England—30 September 1989–1993

  Specialty Group

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  General Medicine Group

  119.7

  129.2

  92.7

  118.1

  103.5

  Accident and Emergency

  15.0

  18.4

  14.4

  19.6

  15.3

  Surgical Group

  88.2

  135.3

  87.1

  90.0

  95.7

  Obstetrics and Gynaecology

  17.9

  23.4

  18.0

  23.0

  21.8

  Anaesthetics

  70.3

  87.9

  50.3

  88.0

  80.6

  Radiology Group

  34.6

  33.9

  18.8

  21.9

  18.4

  Clinical Oncology (formerly Radiotherapy)

  4.2

  7.2

  6.0

  5.0

  2.0

  Pathology Group

  39.0

  49.9

  36.6

  23.4

  20.7

  Psychiatry Group

  193.4

  217.3

  150.1

  152.7

  126.9

  Dental Specialties

  10.0

  10.5

  12.3

  9.0

  5.7

  All Specialties

  592.3

  713.0

  486.4

  550.7

  490.6

  Note:

  The table shows whole time equivalent.

  Children of God
  Mr. Frank Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he will take to deal with the situation discovered in relation to the organisation entitled the Children of God; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Bowis
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Vaccinations
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the medical reason for the abortion from which foetal tissue was obtained from which vaccine was originally derived for vaccinating children against measles and rubella; when that abortion took place; what was the age of the foetus when aborted; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  The cell line in which the vaccine is grown was derived from cells from a single foetus. The termination was carried out in 1966 in a national health service hospital. The foetus was aged 14 weeks. The termination was carried out for psychiatric reasons. Those details were published in"Nature" in 1970, volume 227, pages 168–170. The rubella virus used in the vaccine was isolated from a foetus terminated in the 1960s in the United States 17 days after the mother contracted confirmed rubella. Copies of the publication are available in the Library.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what additional action she is taking to persuade the maximum numbers of parents in the United Kingdom to consent to their children being vaccinated against measles 1274
  and rubella; what action is being taken to allay religious reservations about the origins of the vaccine used in the current vaccination programme; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Health Education Authority has produced an information leaflet with a consent form for parents. Television advertisements and other forms of media have also been used to provide advice and information about the immunisation campaign. This has included advertisements in the ethnic press and on ethnic radio programmes. The Department has been working with leaders of all the faith communities to make available information about the production of rubella vaccine and the public health benefits of immunisation. The chief medical officer met representatives of the various faith communities to discuss the campaign on 1 November; a copy of the press statement released following that meeting has been placed in the Library. We hope that parents of all faiths will be able to participate fully.

  Homeopathic Medicines
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what is her policy in respect of directive 92/73/EEC regulating medicinal homeopathic products;

  (2) what is the Government's timescale for implementing directive 91/73/EEC.

  Mr. Sackville
  Regulations fully implementing directive 92/73/EEC came into force on 14 February 1994. The principal effect of those regulations was to establish a simplified registration scheme for homeopathic medicinal products, thereby extending the opportunities for the marketing of such products in the United Kingdom. Currently marketed products were not affected.

  Electromagnetic Fields
  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment her Department has made into the existence of any link between child leukaemia and electromagnetic fields;

  (2) what research her Department has conducted into any link between electromagnetic fields and health problems;

  (3) if she will make a statement on the health implications of living close to major sources of electricity supply with particular reference to overhead power cables and electricity sub-stations.

  Mr. Sackville
  The National Radiological Protection Board and the Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment have considered epidemiological studies and laboratory research and concluded that they do not establish that exposure to electromagnetic fields causes cancer. Some epidemiological studies have reported associations between electromagnetic fields and some types of cancer. However, the significance of an epidemiological study depends, among other things, on the strength of the association, the presence of a dose-response relationship, supporting experimental evidence and a credible biological explanation. These tests for causality are not satisfied for the link between electromagnetic fields and cancer. The two bodies have not recommended the adoption of a policy of prudent avoidance of electromagnetic fields on the basis of present evidence. The position is being kept under review.
  1275
  The Department is contributing to the funding of the United Kingdom childhood cancer study organised by the United Kingdom Co-ordinating Committee for Cancer Research. The study, which is well under way, is examining the possible influence of a number of agents, including electromagnetic fields on the incidence of childhood cancer.

  The Department also provides funding to the National Radiological Protection Board which undertakes a programme of research into the effects on health of electromagnetic radiation. This includes sources of electromagnetic radiation such as power lines and electrical equipment.

  Asthma
  Ms Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many recorded cases of asthma in children of school age there were for each year from 1979 to 1993.

  Mr. Sackville
  It is estimated that between 4 and 6 per cent. of children suffer from asthma sufficiently seriously to require medical supervision. Numbers of hospital inpatient cases of children suffering from asthma are available from hospital episode statistics for the years shown in the table. Figures for earlier years are not available.

  Finished consultant episodes—ordinary admissions and day cases—in which asthma was the main diagnosis for the five to 18 age group, England

  Number

  1988–89

  27,547

  1989–90

  23,175

  1990–91

  20,536

  1991–92

  22,965

  Source:

  Hospitals Episode Statistics, estimate from a 25 per cent. sample.

  Pay Scales
  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if she will give details of the current pay scales for consultants;

  (2) if she will give details of the current pay scales for doctors;

  (3) if she will give details of the current pay scales for nurses.

  Mr. Malone
  The revised pay rates for nurses and those for hospital medical and dental staff and doctors in public health medicine and the community health service effective from 1 April 1994 were announced in Advance Letters (NM)3/94 and (MD)1/94 respectively. Copies of those letters will be placed in the Library.

  Bull Bars
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cyclists injured in collision with vehicles fitted with bull bars were admitted to hospital in the last 12 months.

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not available centrally.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health on how many occasions in the present Session she 1276
  has answered parliamentary questions with the single word "no".

  Mr. Sackville
  A search of POLIS shows that of a total 5,312 parliamentary questions answered by the Department up to 2 November this session, 24 received an answer with the single word "no"–0.45 per cent.

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the date of appointment, salary and previous post of each of the chief executives of the NHS trusts in England.

  Mr. Malone
  The information is not available centrally.

  Foetal Material
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list all the medicines, vaccines and treatments which have been developed from the cells of aborted foetuses or use foetal material as part of their ingredients.

  Mr. Sackville
  Foetal cells have been used to generate cell lines subsequently used in the manufacture of rabies, rubella, hepatitis A and polio vaccines.

  The polio vaccine mainly used in the United Kingdom however, was not developed or manufactured using foetal material.

  We are not aware of any other licensed medicinal products where their manufacture would have involved the use of such material.

  Performance-related Pay
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 1 November, what proportion of the responses she has received have supported the proposal to introduce performance-related pay into the national health service.

  Mr. Malone
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Market Testing
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is her current calculation of the costs of preparation for market testing in her Department in terms of(a) payments to consultants and (b) other costs.

  Mr. Sackville
  For the period 1 April 1992 to 30 September 1993, the Department market tested activities valued at £19 million with annual savings of £3.5 million. The one-off consultancy and other costs for this period amounted to £409,118 and £263,000 respectively.

  The value of services market tested in the period 1 October 1993 to 30 September 1994 was £25 million. Related savings are not yet available. The consultancy and other costs for the period to 30 June 1994 - the latest available - were £213,731 and £81,000 respectively.

  Pelvic Cancer
  Mr. Miller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 21 October,Official Report, column 393, what audit she undertook of those people who were treated for pelvic cancer; and if she will publish the results.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Department is not undertaking an audit of those people who were treated for pelvic cancer.
  1277
  The Department commissioned an audit of breast cases because they were all suffering from the same cancer and had similar radiotherapy. Patients who had pelvic radiotherapy had different cancers and underwent different techniques of radiotherapy. It is easier to detect common features between members of the first group than between members of the second. For that reason, we have commenced an audit of women exhibiting adverse effects following breast radiotherapy.

  Surveys
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 28 October,Official Report, column 863, if she will place in the Library copies of the hospital league tables—qualitative, patient's charter literature research and hospital league tables qualitative, post publication, surveys.

  Mr. Malone
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Herbal Medicines
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what consultations she undertook with organisations representing consumers and practitioners of herbal medicines prior to drafting the proposed Medicines for Human Use (Marketing Authorisations, Pharmacovigilance and Related Matters) Regulations;

  (2) if she will make a statement on the future availability of herbal medicines; and if she will indicate in particular the effect upon that availability of the implementation of (a) the proposed Medicines for Human Use (Marketing Authorisations, Pharmacovigilance and Related Matters) Regulations and (b) the implementation of any other European directives which have been agreed, which are being negotiated, or which are expected in the near future;

  (3) which sections of the Medicines Acts currently exempt certain herbal medicines from the requirement to obtain a product licence; by which procedure products are exempted; and if she will take steps to ensure that such exemptions are sustained when she brings forward for consideration and implementation (a) the proposed Medicines for Human Use (Marketing Authorisations, Pharmacovigilance and Related Matters) Regulations and (b) the implementation of any other European directives which have been agreed, which are being negotiated, or which are expected in the near future.

  Mr. Sackville
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Mr. Treddinnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if she will list those herbal products which are currently exempt from the requirement for a product licence under the terms of Medicines Acts and which would become unavailable should the European Community bring forward harmonisation procedures following the acceptance of the provisions of the proposed Medicines for Human Use (Marketing Authorisations, Pharmacovigilance and Related Matters) Regulations;

  (2) if she will list those organisations specialising in herbal medicines which were consulted about the proposed Medicines for Human Use (Marketing Authorisations, Pharmacovigilance and Related Matters) Regulations; and what steps she is taking to ensure that such organisations are routinely consulted on future occasions;
  1278
  (3) what information she has concerning the number of individuals in the United Kingdom who currently use herbal medicines; what information she has to suggest that there is a serious health risk posed by the use of such medicines; upon what basis she believes legislation in this area is necessary; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what consultations she undertook with right hon. and hon. Members prior to the drafting of the proposed Medicines for Human Use (Marketing Authorisations, Pharmacovigilance and Related Matters) Regulations; and what steps she will take to ensure that such consultations are undertaken in future;

  (2) what information she currently has about the average cost associated with the supply of all necessary information and research data by a manufacturer in connection with an application to the Medicines Control Agency for a product licence; and what assessment she has made of the implications of such expenses for the suppliers of herbal medicines should such products be brought within the scope of the licensing regime either through the implementation of the proposed Medicines for Human Use (Marketing Authorisations, Pharmacovigilance and Related Matters) Regulations, or subsequent harmonisation moves by the European Community.

  (3) what steps she intends to take to guarantee the availability of herbal medicines within the United Kingdom should the European Community bring forward moves towards harmonisation in the availability of such products following the implementation of the proposed Medicines for Human Use (Marketing Authorisations, Pharmacovigilance and Related Matters) Regulations, and the implementation of any other European directives which have been agreed, which are being negotiated, or which are expected in the near future.

  Mr. Sackville
  I will write to my hon. Friends.

  National Blood Authority
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what procedure is being adopted for consideration of the National Blood Authority's reorganisation proposals; when the National Blood Authority will complete its consideration of the responses to the consultation; and when she will consider their recommendations.

  Mr. Sackville
  The National Blood Authority is undertaking a national consultation on its proposals which ends on 11 November. The results will be carefully considered before decisions are made. The detailed procedure and timescale for assessing the results is under consideration.

  Children in Hospital
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations she has received since January 1993 on the "Too Dear to Visit" campaign and the issue of parents visiting their sick children in hospital; how many letters she has received from(a) parents of sick children, (b) professionals, (c) voluntary organisations and (d) hon. Members; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  We have received some 98 letters from hon. Members who have enclosed a copy of one prepared by the organisers of the "Too Dear to Visit" campaign
  1279
  and forwarded by constituents. The organisers have also written directly to the Department. In addition we have received a small number of letters from members of the public in support of the campaign. We have carefully considered these representations in the light of current provisions for parents to visit their children in hospital. There are no plans to extend these arrangements.

TREASURY

  Public Appointments
  Mrs. Maddock
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of public appointments made by his Department were held by women at the most recent date for which figures are available.

  Mr. Nelson
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer has some responsibility for making or approving 97 public appointments, 23 per cent. of which are held by women, as shown in "Public Bodies 1993", including the Royal Mint.

  In addition to the above appointments, he also has some responsibility for making or approving a further 229 public appointments which are not shown in "Public Bodies". A total of 17 per cent. of these appointments are currently held by women.

  Quangos
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which former hon. Members of this House have been appointed since 1988 by his Department to quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations; and if he will list, in each case, the title of the post, the salary, the duration of the appointment and the party which each represented as an hon. Member.

  Mr. Nelson
  Since 1988 the Treasury has appointed two former Members of the House to quasi non-governmental organisations. Lord Stewartby, a Conservative, was appointed to the Securities and Investments board in December 1993 for a period of two years at a salary of £13,500 per annum. Dr. Oonagh McDonald—Labour—was appointed to the Securities and Investments board in December 1993 for a period of three years at a salary of £13,500 per annum.

  Airports Customs Officers
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many United Kingdom airports receiving scheduled flights from abroad do not have permanent, full-time customs staff stationed at the airport.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  There are six United Kingdom airports receiving scheduled flights from abroad at which there are no permanent, full-time customs staff stationed.

  BSkyB
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what tax consequences and payments to public funds accrue from the sale of 10 per cent. of BSkyB shares.
  1280
  Sir George Young
  The normal rules of confidentiality prevent me commenting on the affairs of particular taxpayers.

  Public Expenditure
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of gross national product were representing(a) gross United Kingdom contributions to the European Community, (b) direct expenditure by Government Departments, (c) expenditure by executive next steps agencies, or other self-accounting units within the public sector and (d) Her Majesty's Government grants to local authorities, at the latest available date; and on what value of gross national product these proportions are calculated.

  Mr. Aitken
  The table shows figures for expenditure as a percentage of gross domestic product for the financial year 1993–94, the latest year for which final outturn figures are available.

  Percentage of GDP

  Gross EC contributions

  1·3

  Central government's own expenditure1

  28·4

  Central government grants to local authorities2

  8·8

  Notes:

  1Government Departments' and other central Government bodies' expenditure within the control total excluding net EC contributions and including cyclical social security.

  2Excludes credit approvals.

  The figures are based on a gross domestic product figure of £630 billion. It is the Government's usual practice to use gross domestic product in preference to gross national product when comparing Government expenditure aggregates with total economy expenditure.

  Separate information on the expenditure by next steps executive agencies is available in individual Departments' annual departmental reports. Information on the expenditure of non-departmental public bodies can be found in the Cabinet Office publication "Public Bodies".

  Income Tax
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what was the tax take, in each year since 1990–91 of(a) the top 1 per cent., (b) the top 5 per cent., (c) the top 10 per cent., (d) the bottom 70 per cent., (e) the bottom 10 per cent. of taxpayers and (g) all taxpayers;

  (2) what was the percentage of total income, in each year since 1990–91, received by (a) the top 1 per cent., (b) the top 5 per cent., (c) the top 10 per cent., (d) the bottom 70 per cent. and (e) the bottom 10 per cent. of taxpayers;

  (3) what was (a) the total income, (b) the average income and (c) the earned income, in each year since 1990–91, of (i) the top 1 per cent., (ii) the top 5 per cent., (iii) the top 10 per cent., (iv) the bottom 70 per cent, (v) the bottom 10 per cent. of taxpayers and (vi) in all taxpayers;

  (4) what was the percentage of the tax take, in each year since 1990–91, from (a) the top 1 per cent., (b) the top 5 per cent., (c) the top 10 per cent., (d) the bottom 70 per cent. and (e) the bottom 10 per cent. of taxpayers.

  Sir George Young
  Estimates are given in the table.
  1281

  Quantile group of taxpayers

  Total income1

  Average income

  Total earned income 2

  Income tax liability

  Per cent.

  £ million

  £

  £ million

  £ million

  Per cent.

  1990–91

  Top 1

  28,300

  107,800

  21,100

  9,200

  15

  Top 5

  68,700

  52,200

  54,400

  18,900

  31

  Top 10

  102,800

  39,100

  83,900

  25,400

  42

  Bottom 70

  161,400

  8,800

  147,700

  18,700

  31

  Bottom 10

  12,100

  4,600

  11,300

  300

  1

  All taxpayers

  358,300

  13,600

  316,400

  60,400

  100

  Quantile group of taxpayers

  Total income1

  Average income

  Total earned income 2

  Income tax liability

  Per cent.

  £ million

  £

  £ million

  £ million

  Per cent.

  1991–92

  Top 1

  31,200

  120,600

  23,400

  10,400

  16

  Top 5

  73,900

  57,100

  60,100

  20,700

  33

  Top 10

  109,600

  42,300

  91,800

  27,500

  43

  Bottom 70

  166,300

  9,200

  152,700

  19,300

  30

  Bottom 10

  12,600

  4,900

  11,300

  300

  1

  All taxpayers

  373,800

  14,400

  335,000

  63,500

  100

  Quantile group of taxpayers

  Total income1

  Average income

  Total earned income 2

  Income tax liability

  Per cent.

  £ million

  £

  £ million

  £ million

  Per cent.

  1992–93

  Top 1

  29,300

  115,300

  22,900

  9,500

  16

  Top 5

  72,000

  56,700

  61,300

  19,800

  33

  Top 10

  108,100

  42,600

  93,700

  26,500

  44

  Bottom 70

  165,300

  9,300

  153,000

  17,500

  29

  Bottom 10

  12,500

  4,900

  11,100

  300

  —

  All taxpayers

  373,700

  14,700

  340,800

  60,700

  100

  Quantile group of taxpayers

  Total income1

  Average income

  Total earned income 2

  Income tax liability

  Per cent.

  £ million

  £

  £ million

  £ million

  Per cent.

  1993–94

  Top 1

  29,900

  117,600

  24,300

  9,800

  16

  Top 5

  73,900

  58,200

  64,800

  20,400

  33

  Top 10

  111,300

  43,800

  99,900

  27,500

  44

  Bottom 70

  166,900

  9,400

  156,800

  18,000

  29

  Bottom 10

  12,200

  4,800

  11,100

  300

  —

  All taxpayers

  381,400

  15,000

  354,600

  62,800

  100

  Quantile group of taxpayers

  Total income1

  Average income

  Total earned income 2

  Income tax liability

  Per cent.

  £ million

  £

  £ million

  £ million

  Per cent.

  1994–95

  Top 1

  32,000

  124,200

  25,800

  10,800

  15

  Top 5

  78,900

  61,200

  68,900

  22,800

  33

  Top 10

  118,700

  46,000

  106,200

  30,900

  44

  Bottom 70

  173,300

  9,600

  163,000

  19,900

  29

  Bottom 10

  12,300

  4,800

  11,200

  300

  —

  All taxpayers

  401,000

  15,500

  373,100

  69,700

  100

  Note:

  1Income subject to tax. Excludes non-taxable income such as certain social security benefits.

  2Income from employment, self-employment and pensions.

  Spencer Stuart Consultants
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many contracts his Department or Government agencies responsible to his Department have entered into with Spencer Stuart consultants in the last two years.

  Mr. Nelson
  I regret that I cannot answer substantively before Parliament is prorogued. I will, however, write to the hon. Member.

  Departmental Property
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what properties are owned or leased by his Department for the use of Ministers; what was the total running cost for each property for the latest year available broken down into(a) furniture and fittings, (b) maintenance, (c) staffing, including the number of butlers, cooks and housekeepers, (d) food and hospitality and (e) other costs; what is the estimated value of each property; and how many times in the latest year the property was stayed in overnight by a Minister.

  Mr. Nelson
  The Treasury neither owns nor leases buildings for the use of Ministers.

  Lloyd's Names
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what is the Inland Revenue's estimate of tax relief since 1988 for Lloyd's names; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) on what basis tax relief will be given to Lloyd's names for the years of account since 1988; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir George Young
  Lloyd's names are traders under general law and tax legislation follows this. Accordingly, trading losses incurred by Lloyd's names are eligible for relief on the same lines as those of other traders: Lloyd's trading losses of any year can be set against other tradeable income of the same tax year or of the previous year, or can be carried forward and set against Lloyd's trading profits of later years.

  Changes from the 1991–92 year or assessment enabling trading losses to be set against capital gains apply to all traders, including Lloyd's names.

  Information on tax relief is not centrally available.

  Income tax and capital gains tax repaid to Lloyd's underwriters by the underwriters unit of Inland Revenue in each year to 5 April since 1988–89 is shown in the following table. The figures cover refunds of tax made over a range of earlier years, and include any repayment supplement attracted by the tax refunded. For comparison purposes, the table also shows the tax charged on initial assessments made during each year on underwriting profits and gains, including estimated assessments.

  Fiscal Year

  Total tax repaid £million

  Total tax assessed £million

  1988–89

  157·7

  157·3

  1989–90

  118·2

  308·9

  1990–91

  91·0

  228·2

  1991–92

  126·7

  101·8

  1992–93

  386·6

  10·3

  1993–94

  479·1

  3·7

  Public Investment Projects
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much private capital has been invested in public investment projects since the 1992 autumn statement.

  Sir George Young
  Nearly £8 billion by the end of 1994–95, including about £500 million under the private finance initiative.

  Bank Accounts
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what guidance has been issued to the clearing banks by the Bank of England concerning personal and business bank accounts held by Iraqi nationals resident in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nelson
  The Bank of England issued a notice on 7 August 1990, and supplements on 25 August, 3 September and 13 September 1990, which detailed the administrative arrangements for blocking personal and business accounts held in the United Kingdom by Iraqi nationals. Further guidance is given to individual banks on application to the sanctions emergency unit at the Bank of England.

  Copies of the Bank notice and the three supplements are being placed in the Library.

  Mortgage Tax Relief
  Mr. Ron Davies
  .: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many households in Wales receive mortgage tax relief; and at what total cost to the Exchequer.

  Sir George Young
  It is estimated that 450,000 married couples and single people receive mortgage interest relief in Wales in 1994–95 at a cost to the Exchequer of £130 million. The estimates are based on the regional distribution of mortgages shown by the 1993 family expenditure survey applied to the United Kingdom total estimates for 1994–95.

  Black Economy
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made about the growth in the black economy since 1979.

  Sir George Young
  It is not possible to make a reliable assessment.

  VAT
  Mr. Bowden
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the increase in inflation for the year to September 1994 would have been if VAT on fuel at 8 per cent. had not been introduced in April.

  Mr. Nelson
  The extension of VAT to domestic fuel and power is estimated to have added just under 0.4 per cent. to the retail prices index since April 1994.

  Market Testing
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his current calculation of the costs of preparation for market testing in his Department in terms of(a) payments to consultants and (b) other costs.

  Mr. Nelson
  Expenditure to date by the Treasury on payments to external consultants for work related to
  1285
  market testing amounts to £141,675. Other costs of £59,400 have also been incurred.

  Loans (Taxation)
  Mr. Carrington
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how the Inland Revenue taxes loans which replace cheap or interest-free loans provided to employees by their employer.

  Sir George Young
  Cheap or interest-free loans provided by employers are taxable benefits in kind. At present under, the technical rules introduced in 1976 to prevent avoidance, any loan which replaces a cheap or interest-free loan provided by an employer is also taxable, unless the replacement loan qualifies for exemption.

  Some employers would like to stop providing cheap loans to staff. They want to do so by transferring their staff's existing loans to subsidiaries of commercial lenders set up for the purpose of giving replacement loans in such circumstances. However, the replacement loans from the subsidiary companies, which are on arm's length terms, could still be taxable. They would not be exempt as "commercial loans" because the subsidiary companies do not lend to the public.

  In order to remove a possible obstacle to the provision of replacement loans to employees, we intend to propose legislation in the next Finance Bill. This would replace the rule which makes all replacement loans potentially taxable by new rules which focus more precisely on the potential for tax avoidance. The new rules would allow the subsidiary companies to provide replacement loans on arm's length terms without the replacement loans being taxable. We intend that this provision should apply from 6 April 1995.

  The Inland Revenue is making available today a draft clause which would implement these changes. A copy of the draft clause will be placed in the Library of the House of Commons.

  Tax Statistics
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will update his answer to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Garscadden (Mr. Dewar) of 25 February 1993,Official Report, columns 682-84, on the tax liabilities of taxpayers in different income bands, giving figures for 1994–95 and estimates for 1995–96 based on the assumption of statutory indexation and including measures already announced in the 1993 budgets.

  Sir George Young
  [holding answer 2 November 1994]: Latest estimates of the average reductions in income tax and national insurance liabilities in 1994–95 and 1995–96 assuming statutory indexation and inclusion of measures already announced, compared with liabilities under an indexed 1987–88 regime are in the table. An equivalent assumption has been made about indexation of the national insurance regime for 1995–96. The 1987–88 income tax regime has been indexed to 1994–95 and 1995–96 levels by reference to the statutory formula and allowing for the effect of the independent taxation of husbands and wives.
  1286

  Average reduction or increase (-) in 1994–95 compared with 1987–88 indexed regime (£)

  Range of individuals Income in 1994–95(£)

  Income tax

  Income tax and National Insurance

  Under 5,000

  40

  60

  5,000-10,000

  150

  200

  10,000-15,000

  200

  270

  15,000-20,000

  250

  280

  20,000-25,000

  330

  290

  25,000-30,000

  370

  290

  30,000-40,000

  -70

  -160

  40,000-50,000

  140

  50

  50,000-70,000

  1,460

  1,360

  70,000-80,000

  4,040

  3,930

  Over 80,000

  17,800

  17,700

  Average

  330

  350

  Average reduction or increase (-) in 1995–96 compared with 1987–88 indexed regime (£)

  Range of individuals income in 1995–96 (£)

  Income tax

  Income tax and National Insurance

  Under 5,000

  30

  50

  5,000-10,000

  70

  110

  10,000-15,000

  10

  80

  15,000-20,000

  -60

  -40

  20,000-25,000

  -90

  -120

  25,000-30,000

  -120

  -180

  30,000-40,000

  -640

  -710

  40,000-50,000

  -620

  -700

  50,000-70,000

  620

  530

  70,000-80,000

  3,120

  3,020

  Over 80,000

  16,900

  16,800

  Average

  110

  130

  For the purpose of the calculations the indexed regime of 1987–88 has been applied directly to the income bases of 1994–95 and 1995–96. In practice, retention of the 1987–88 regime, indexed as appropriate, for the intervening years would have led to changes in the income base.

  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will add to the table in his answer to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Garscadden (Mr. Dewar) of 3 November 1993,Official Report, columns 245–56, estimating the tax liabilities in 1995–96 for the given income ranges showing the effects of all tax changes including those announced in 1993 budgets and including both indirect taxation and intermediate taxation.

  Sir George Young
  [holding answer October 1994]: The impact of indirect and intermediate taxation depends on individual spending patterns and the effect of indirect and intermediate taxes on prices.

  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will update the information provided in the Treasury's tax ready reckoner and tax reliefs on the basis of the September retail prices index.

  Sir George Young
  [holding answer 2 November 1994]: Updated information for tables 2 to 6, and part of table 7, is as follows. Figures for the rest of table 7, as well as tables 8 to 10, have not been revised as these are not dependent on the September retail prices index.

  1287

  Table 2 Income tax

  £

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Personal allowance

  3,445

  3,525

  Personal allowance (age 65-74)

  4,200

  4,300

  Personal allowance (age 75 and over)

  4,370

  4,470

  Married couple's allowance

  1,720

  11,720

  Married couple's allowance (age 65-74)

  2,665

  12,995

  Married couple's allowance (age 75 and over)

  2,705

  13,035

  Additional personal2 and widow's bereavement allowance

  1,720

  11,720

  Aged income limit3

  14,200

  14,600

  Lower rate band

  3,000

  3,100

  Basic rate limit4

  23,700

  24,300

  Notes:

  1 The values of these allowances were announced in the November 1993 Budget. The additional £330 for taxpayers aged 65 or over ensures that they lose no more from the restriction of the married couple's allowance to 15 per cent. than taxpayers aged under 65.

  2 Primarily for single parents.

  3 If the total income, less allowable deductions, of a taxpayer aged 65 or over exceeds this limit, the age-related allowances are reduced by £1 for each £2 of income over the limit until the basic levels of the personal and married couple's allowances are reached.

  4 Higher rate income tax is payable on income (less those allowances and reliefs that are allowed at the higher rate) in excess of the basic rate limit.

  Table 3 Inheritance tax

  £'000

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Threshold

  150

  154

  Table 4 Capital gains tax

  £

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Annual exempt amount: individuals

  5,800

  6,000

  trustees

  2,900

  3,000

  Table 5 Cost of indexation for 1995–96

  £ million

  1995–96

  1996–97

  Indexation of income tax allowances, lower rate band and basic rate limit1of which:

  700

  920

  increases in allowances

  450

  560

  increase in the lower rate band2

  80

  100

  increase in the basic rate limit2

  170

  260

  Indexation of inheritance tax threshold

  15

  25

  Indexation of capital gains tax annual exempt amount

  —

  2

  1Cost includes the consequential effects of capital gains tax, but excludes the cost of changes in the married couple's allowance and related allowances as these allowances were announced In the November 1993 Budget.

  2 Additional cost after previous change has been introduced.

  1288

  Table 6 Direct effects of illustrative changes in income tax1

  £ million cost/yield

  1995–96

  1996–97

  Rates

  Change lower rate by 1p2

  3770

  3650

  Change basic rate by 1p

  1,700

  2,100

  Change higher rate by 1p

  310

  520

  Allowances

  Change personal allowance £100

  490

  63

  Change age-related personal allowance by £1004

  45

  60

  Change married couple's allowance by £ 1005

  120

  150

  Change age-related married couple's allowances by £1004

  11

  14

  Change aged income limit by £500

  6

  11

  Change all personal allowances by 1 per cent.6

  190

  240

  Change all personal allowances by 10 per cent.6

  1,850

  2,400

  Change married couple's and related allowances by 1 per cent.6

  25

  30

  Change married couple's and related allowances by 10 per cent.6

  240

  310

  Lower rate band

  Increase lower rate band by 10 per cent.6

  250

  320

  Basic rate limit Change basic rate limit by 1 per cent.6

  65

  95

  Change basic rate limit by 10 per cent.6

  increase (cost)

  590

  870

  decrease (yield)

  740

  1,050

  Allowances, lower rate band and basic rate limit

  Change all main allowances, lower rate band and basic rate limit by 1 per cent.6

  300

  400

  Change all main allowances, lower rate band and basic rate limit by 10 per cent.6:

  increase (cost)

  2,900

  3,900

  decrease (yield)

  3,200

  4,250

  1The estimates are rounded. The extent of rounding reflects the desire to avoid undue compounding of its effects when numbers are pro-rated, rather than the accuracy of the estimates. The figures include consequential effects on the yield of capital gains tax. Changes are assumed to take effect from April 1995.

  2Including the effects of the changes on receipts of ACT and on consequential liability to mainstream corporation tax.

  3In last year's Ready Reckoner it was assumed that a change in the lower rate would affect the married couple's allowance and related allowances and mortgage interest relief. These allowances and mortgage interest relief have since been restricted to 15 per cent. with effect from April 1995 and will not consequentially reduce the effects of a change in the lower rate.

  4Allowances for those aged 65–74 and aged 75 and over.

  5Figures include revenue effects of changing the additional personal allowance and widow's bereavement allowance by £100.

  6Percentage changes are calculated with reference to 1994–95 levels, except for the married couple's allowance and related allowances, where they are calculated with reference to the 1995–96 levels announced in the November 1993 Budget.

  1289

  Table 7 Direct effects of illustrative changes in other direct taxes1

  £ million cost/yield

  1995–96

  1996–97

  Capital gains tax

  Increase annual exempt amount by £500 for individuals and £250 for trustees

  —

  6

  Inheritance tax

  Change rate by 1 percentage point

  16

  33

  Increase threshold by £5,000

  17

  33

  1The estimated revenue effects of the changes on receipts are rounded. The extent of rounding reflects the desire to avoid undue compounding of its effects when numbers are pro-rated, rather than the accuracy of the estimates. The figures include consequential effects on the yield of capital gains tax. Changes are assumed to take effect from April 1995.

  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will update his answer to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Garscadden (Mr. Dewar) of 1 November 1993,Official Report, column 20, to provide similar estimates of the burden of direct and indirect taxes for 1995–96 based on the assumption of statutory indexation and including measures already announced in the 1993 budgets.

  Sir George Young
  [holding answer 2 November 1994]: The burden of direct and indirect taxes for 1995–96 will depend on the levels of earnings in that year. The impact of pre-announced Budget measures averaged over all households will be about £3 a week in 1995–96.

  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will update the answer to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Garscadden (Mr. Dewar) of 3 November 1993,Official Report, column 254, to include estimates for taxing child benefit for 1995–96 based on the assumption of statutory indexation and measures already announced in the 1993 budgets; and if he will include estimates for the effect on revenues if child benefits was taxed at the higher rate only.

  Sir George Young
  [holding answer 2 November 1994]: Were child benefit to be taxed on the assumption given the yield would be:

  Yield in a full year (£ million)

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Child benefit taxed as:

  Father's or —All taxpayers

  1,200

  1,300

  lone mothers –40 per cent

  income taxpayers only

  300

  300

  Mother's or —All taxpayers

  650

  700

  lone father's –40 per cent.

  income taxpayers only

  40

  40

  The estimates for 1995–96 are based on the assumption that child benefit will be increased in line with the September retail prices index.

  Duties
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the impact on the retail prices index of a(a) 3 per cent., (b) 5 per cent. and (c) 10 per cent. increase in duties on (i) beer and cider, (ii) wine, (iii) spirits, (iv) tobacco, (v) petrol, (vi) diesel and (vii) vehicle excise duty.
  1290
  Mr. Heatcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 2 November 1994]: The table shows the impact on the RPI, excluding mortgage interest payments of various duty increases.

  3 per cent. Non-indexed

  5 per cent. Non-indexed

  10 per cent. Non-indexed

  Beer and Cider

  0·02

  0·04

  0·08

  Wine

  0·02

  0·03

  0·06

  Spirits

  0·02

  0·03

  0·07

  Tobacco

  0·07

  0·12

  0·24

  Petrol

  0·07

  0·12

  0·23

  Diesel

  0·01

  0·01

  0·02

  VED

  0·02

  0·04

  0·08

  Value Added Tax
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the effect on Treasury revenue in 1995–96 and in a full year of extending value added tax at(a) 8 per cent. (b) 17·5 per cent. to all those zero-rated, giving figures separately for each item.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 2 November 1994]: The Treasury publication "Tax Ready Reckoner and Tax Reliefs" shows the expected cost of zero rating items currently zero-rated in 1994–95. It is possible to derive an estimated revenue gain from taxing these items at both 8 per cent. and 17.5 per cent. These figures make no allowance for behavioural changes.

  £ million

  8 percent.

  17·5 percent

  Food

  3,270

  7,150

  Construction of new dwellings

  890

  1,950

  Domestic Passenger Transport

  525

  1,150

  International Passenger Transport

  525

  1,150

  Books, newspapers and magazines

  525

  1,150

  Children's clothing

  275

  600

  Water and sewerage services

  320

  700

  Drugs and medicines on prescription

  230

  500

  Supplies to charities

  90

  200

  Ships and aircraft above a certain size

  205

  450

  Vehicles and other supplies to disabled people

  70

  150

  Economic Developments
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will press the International Monetary Fund board of directors to release the document, entitled "Recent Economic Developments".

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 2 November 1994]: The IMF executive board decided on 11 July 1994 that, subject to the consent of the member concerned, "Recent Economic Developments" documents should be published. Since that date there have been no "Recent Economic Developments" documents on the United Kingdom.

  Public Sector Borrowing Requirements
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the reasons for the difference between the forecast public sector borrowing requirement for 1994–95 contained in table 2.1 of the Treasury's 1994 summer economic forecast and the
  1291
  earlier forecast for the same financial year contained in the March 1991 Financial Statement and Budget Report; and if he will estimate how much of the difference was due to (a) discretionary changes to public expenditure plans, taxes or other receipts, (b) changes resulting from errors in forecasting the level of out-put, (c) changes resulting from errors in forecasting the rate of inflation, (d) errors in forecasting debt interest and (e) other errors.

  Mr. Aitken
  I regret that I cannot answer substantively before Parliament is prorogued. I will, however, write to the hon. Member.

  Family Expenditure
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the average weekly expenditure in 1997–98 and 1996–97 of(a) all households, (b) families with children, (c) non-retired households and (d) retired households, on domestic fuel, showing separately for 1995–96 the extra expenditure as a result of VAT at 17.5 per cent.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 2 November 1994]The table shows figures for 1993 based on the family expenditure survey, the most recent data available. Making projections for 1996–97 and 1997–98 would require hypothetical assumptions on the development of earnings, the distribution of income between household types and future energy prices.

  Average weekly expenditure 1993 £

  Extra expenditure from 17½ per cent. VAT £

  All households

  13·24

  1·81

  Families with children

  15·25

  2·08

  Non retired households

  13·40

  1·83

  Retired households

  11·03

  1·51

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Prosecution (Immunity)
  Mr. Allason
  To ask the Attorney-General how many people are the subject of an immunity from prosecution; and if he will name them.

  The Attorney-General
  The term "immunities" is variously used to signify specific assurances given by prosecuting authorities that an offender will not be prosecuted for a particular offence or offences as well as the assurance which may be implied when a prosecuting authority concludes that the public interest is being served by using an individual who may have played some part in a crime as a witness rather than prosecuting that individual.

  The term may also be used to describe assurances given to an individual that answers to questions given before a particular tribunal—for example, a public inquiry—will not be used in evidence against that person; albeit a prosecution may still be brought if evidence from other
  1292
  sources is available and sufficient to justify the institution of proceedings.

  No central record of "immunities" is maintained.

  Departmental Property
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Attorney-General what properties are owned or leased by his Department for the use of Ministers; what was the total running cost for each property for the latest year available broken down into(a) furniture and fittings, (b) maintenance, (c) staffing, including the number of butlers, cooks and housekeepers, (d) food and hospitality and (e) other costs; what is the estimated value of each property; and how many times in the latest year the property was stayed in overnight by a Minister.

  The Attorney-General
  Excluding departmental offices, no such properties are owned or leased by the Departments for which I am responsible.

  Spencer Stuart Consultants
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Attorney-General how many contracts his Department or Government agencies responsible to his Department have entered into with Spencer Stuart consultants in the last two years.

  The Attorney-General
  None.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Broadcasting and Media
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is his latest estimate of(a) the export value of United Kingdom broadcasters programmes and (b) the value of imports into the United Kingdom of foreign programmes.

  Mr. Nelson
  I have been asked to reply.

  In 1993, exports and imports by United Kingdom television companies were £113 million and £228 million respectively. These figures include the making of television programmes and the buying and selling of completed programmes.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what representations he made to and what assessment he has made of the decision of the European Parliament regarding cross-media ownership; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  My Department is aware of the view of the European Parliament, which is likely to be reflected in the European Commission's forthcoming communication on pluralism and media concentrations.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what contact his Department has had with the European Commission Council of Ministers arising from the European Parliament's decision in January to request draft legislation from Commissioner Vanni d' Archirapi on diversification of media ownership.

  Mr. Dorrell
  There has been no discussion within the Culture Council on the issue of media ownership. The Industry/Telecommunications Council on 28 September 1994 noted the European Commission's response to the Bangemann group report on the Information Society, which included reference to media concentration.
  1293
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what response his Department has made to the EU Commission's communication on the information Society in respect of European regulation of media concentrations.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The European Commission's communication on the Information Society indicated that the Commission will shortly present a communication to the Council and Parliament on the follow-up to the Green Paper on pluralism and media concentration in the internal market. I shall consider any response once the communication is available.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will list the research papers produced by his Department or commissioned from consultants in the last year on matters which fall under the scope of the broadcasting policy and media divisions of his Department.

  Mr. Dorrell
  "Setting the level of the television licence fee", a report by management consultants, Touche Ross, was published on 4 November 1993. No other research papers have been produced in the last year in the areas falling within the scope of my Department's broadcasting policy and media divisions.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when the franchises for the regional television companies are to be re-auctioned; and what amendments to the proceedings he will introduce.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The channel 3 licences which came into force on 1 January 1993 are valid for ten years. An application for renewal may be made by the current licence holder any time after six years from the start of the licence. The terms of any renewal will be set by the Independent Television Commission. I have no plans to amend the procedures.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when he last met representatives of the ITN network; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I met Michael Green, who is the chairman of ITN, on 6 October and discussed a number of broadcasting issues.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what response his Department has made to the European Green Paper on pluralism and media 1992; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  My Department has discussed the Green Paper with officials from the European Commission on a number of occasions. I shall consider any response to the Commission's forthcoming communication on this matter once the communication is available.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans he has to change the ownership rules for ITV franchises; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The ownership rules for all broadcasters, including the ITV franchises, are being considered as part of the Government's review of cross-media ownership. An announcement about the outcome will be made once the Government have determined the way ahead.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) what is his Department's policy towards extending the diversity of ownership of the press and broadcasting media;

  (2) what is his Department's policy on the extension to broadcasting of the existing laws of libel and obscenity as apply to other media;
  1294
  (3) what was the income received by Her Majesty's Government from each of the independent television companies for the latest year for which figures are available; and if he will list separately the levy, the annual bid price and other sources of revenue.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of the letter in the Libraries of the House.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will list the quangos to which his Department is due to make appointments over the next year.

  Mr. Dorrell
  My Department will be making appointments to the following non-departmental public bodies over the next 12 months;

  The Arts Council of England

  The British Film Institute

  The Geffrye Museum

  The British Library Board

  The British Tourist Authority

  The Broadcasting Complaints Commission

  The Broadcasting Standards Council

  The Crafts Council

  English Heritage

  The English Tourist Board

  The Football Licensing Authority

  Greater Manchester Museum of Science and Industry

  The Horniman Museum

  The National Film Development Fund

  The National Film and Television School

  National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside

  The Public Lending Right Advisory Committee

  The Royal Armouries

  The Sports Council

  The Theatres Trust

  In addition, I will be making appointments to the new Library and Information Commission and to a new advisory council which will take over the statutory functions of the Library and Information Services Council (England).

  Depending on when they are established, I may also be making appointments to the new United Kingdom and English Sports Councils.

  Television Licence Fee
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on index linking the television licence fee to maintain its value; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  As announced by my predecessor on 4 November 1993,Official Report, columns 309–10, the Government's policy, in the light of a study by independent management consultants, Touche Ross, is to link increases in the television licence fee to the retail prices index for the remaining years of the BBC's current royal charter, that is, until the end of 1996.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what would be the cost of free television licences to all pensioners.

  Mr. Dorrell
  If free television licences were made available to all pensioners, regardless of their means, the cost to the BBC, in terms of lost licence fee revenue, is currently estimated at £510 million.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what representations his Department has made
  1295
  on the subject of concessionary television licences in warden-aided accommodation being available to some and not to others; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  As indicated in the White Paper "The Future of the BBC", published on 6 July 1994, the Government have considered the possibility of reviewing the concessionary television licence scheme, as recommended by the National Heritage Select Committee. We have, however concluded that any attempt to remove the perceived anomalies of the scheme would most likely only have the effect of creating fresh ones. The Government therefore have no plans for any changes in the concessionary regulations.

  Privacy
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will make a statement on his Department's policy on the proper balance between investigative journalism and protection of private individuals from intrusion and harassment.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Government's conclusion on this matter will be set out in our response to the National Heritage Select Committee's report on privacy and media intrusion.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) if he will make it his policy to incorporate a public interest defence into any forthcoming legislation on privacy;

  (2) when he expects to publish a White Paper on privacy and the media arising from the Lord Chancellor's review and the Calcutt report; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrel
  The Government's conclusions on the need for fresh legislation to protect privacy will be set out in our response to the National Heritage Select Committee's report on privacy and media intrusion. I cannot yet say when that will be published.

  Press
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) what is his Department's assessment of the effectiveness of the Press Complaints Commission;

  (2) what is his Department's policy on the establishment of a right to free speech and a free press; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Government's conclusions on the effectiveness of the Press Complaints Commission, and on the proper balance between the right to privacy and the freedom of the press, will be set out in our response to the National Heritage Select Committee's report on privacy and media intrusion.

  Information Super-highways
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what interest his Department has in the development of information super-highways; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  My Department's interest is in contributing to the development of broadcasting, telecommunications and computer networks by providing a regulatory structure for broadcasting that recognises the needs of both consumers and industry.
  1296
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what his Department's policy is on the European Commission's proposals for a European information super-highway; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The European Commission has stimulated an interesting debate on these matters, to which my Department continues to contribute. We remain of the view that it is primarily for the market to determine how to proceed and to grasp the opportunities that the new technologies and continuing liberalisation of world markets will bring.

  Tourism
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will list his official engagements for 27 October and also those of his Parliamentary Under-Secretary with responsibility for tourism.

  Mr. Dorrell
  On 27 October, I held a number of departmental meetings, attended Cabinet and flew to the US on private business immediately thereafter. My hon. Friend, the Under-Secretary of State, Viscount Astor, also held departmental meetings and attended a British hospitality association dinner.

  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will list all independent consultants or firms who have been awarded contracts to carry out tourism-related work for each of the last five years, specifying which body was responsible for the appointment, the dates of appointment, the name of the consultant or firm, the value of the contract and the subject of the consultant's work.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I shall write to the hon. Member and place a copy of the letter in the Libraries of the House.

  Media Ownership
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage in what form his Department keeps records of who owns(a) newspapers and (b) television stations and what his statistics indicate about the concentration of ownership.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Ownership concentrations within the broadcasting sector must conform to the limits prescribed by the Broadcasting Act 1990. Information about the ownership of broadcasters is collected by the Independent Television Commission in accordance with its responsibilities outlined in chapter 1 of part 1 of the Act. My Department does not itself regularly collect ownership information about the newspaper industry.

  Departmental Advice
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will list the occasions on which his Department has expressed a view on the advisability of any item or programme being published or broadcast.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Department of National Heritage is not consulted in advance about individual publications or programmes.

  European People's Party
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage which official functions involving the European People's party he has attended since his appointment.

  Mr. Dorrell
  None.

  Quangos
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage which former hon. Members of this House have been appointed since 1988 by his Department to quasi-autonomas non-governmental organisations; and if he will list, in each case, the title of the post, the salary, the duration of the appointment and the party which each represented as an hon. Member.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Former Members of the House of Commons who have been appointed since my Department was set up in April 1992 are as follows. Information from prior to this is not held centrally. No salaries are paid except where otherwise indicated.The right hon. The Lord Barnett (Labour)
  Reappointed as Chairman of the National Film Development Fund in July 1993. His term of appointment is due to expire in December 1994 (Salary £2,205).
  Mr. John Lee (Conservative)
  Appointed Chairman of the Board of the Greater Manchester Museum of Science and Industry in October 1992 for 3 years, and as Member of the Board of the English Tourist Board in November 1992 for 2 years (Salary £6,550).
  Mr. Bryan Magee (Labour 1974–82, SDP 1982–83)
  Appointed Member of the Arts Council of Great Britain in January 1993 for 4 years (resigned January 1994).
  Mr. Matthew Parris (Conservative)
  Appointed Member of the Broadcasting Standards Council in January 1993 for 5 years (Salary £12,510).
  Lord Dubs (Labour)
  Appointed Member for the Broadcasting Standards Council in April 1992 for 8 months, and reappointed in January 1993 for 6 months (Salary £10,900).
  The right hon. The Lord Younger of Preswick KCVO TD (Conservative)
  Appointed Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Armouries in October 1994, for 5 years.

  British Television Programmes
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) what restrictions currently exist relating to the percentage of programmes made in Britain which must be shown by television and cable companies in the United Kingdom;

  (2) what quotas currently exist for the use of British programming by (a) satellite, (b) cable and (c) terrestrial channels;

  (3) what is his Department's policy on the right to reply; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I write to the hon. Member and place a copy of the letter in the Libraries of the House.

  Departmental Property
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what properties are owned or leased by his Department for the use of Ministers; what was the total running cost for each property for the latest year available broken down into(a) furniture and fittings, (b) maintenance, (c) staffing, including the number of butlers,
  1298
  cooks and housekeepers, (d) food and hospitality and (e) other costs; what is the estimated value of each property; and how many times in the latest year the property was stayed in overnight by a Minister.

  Mr. Sproat
  My Department neither leases nor owns any property for the personal use of Ministers.

  Arts Council
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will make it his policy to reverse the most recent reduction in the budget of the Arts Council; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of the letter in the Libraries of the House.

  Spencer Stuart Consultants
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many contracts his Department or Government agencies responsible to his Department have entered into with Spencer Stuart consultants in the last two years.

  Mr. Sproat
  Neither my Department nor its agencies have entered into any contracts with Spencer Stuart consultants in the last two years.

  Market Testing
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is his current calculation of the costs of preparation for market testing in his Department in terms of(a) payments to consultants and (b) other costs.

  Mr. Sproat
  My Department incurred consultancy costs of £481,866 between 1 April 1992 and 30 June 1994 in preparation for market testing. No other costs in respect of the programme were incurred over this period.

  Wembley Stadium
  Ms Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will take steps to ensure the ownership of Wembley stadium is kept in British hands.

  Mr. Sproat
  No. The future ownership of Wembley stadium is a matter for the current owners, Wembley plc, to determine.

  Team Sports
  Ms Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what co-ordination he has with other Government Departments in order to facilitate the teaching of team sports in schools.

  Mr. Sproat
  The Government are currently considering ways of enhancing the position of team sports in schools. An announcement will be made in due course. All interested Departments are contributing to the review.

  Sports Council
  Ms Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is the current salary of the chairman and other officers of the Sports Council; and if they are on performance-related pay.
  1299
  Mr. Sproat
  The salary of the chairman of the Sports Council is published annually in the Cabinet Office's publication "Public Bodies", and is currently £20,546. This is reviewed in line with the recommendations of the Senior Salaries Review Body, subject to satisfactory performance. It is not practice to publish the salaries of individual employees. Performance-related pay has however been introduced in line with the arrangements which apply in the civil service.

  Ms Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when he expects to announce that changes to the Sports Council have been implemented.

  Mr. Sproat
  As I announced to the House on 8 July,Official Report, columns 584-86, I expect the restructuring of the Sports Council to be achieved during the next financial year.

  Ms Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage on what basis the Sports Council will continue to fund the English School Sports Association and its members.

  Mr. Sproat
  Within the broad policy framework which the Government set, it is for the Sports Council to determine its own policies and priorities for spending.

  Ms Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will make a statement on the availability of non-vocational qualifications in sport; and if he will list those that will be available by 1 January 1995.

  Mr. Sproat
  Sport NVQs are currently available in playwork—levels 2, 3 and 4—sport and recreation—level 1—sport and recreation—facility operations—level 2, sport and recreation (development) (level 3), sport and recreation (outdoor education) (level 3), sport and recreation (supervision) (level 3), sport and recreation management (facilities) (level 4) and sport and recreation management (sports development) (level 4). In addition, coaching NVQs, which must be delivered through a specific sport, are currently being developed. It is likely that by 1 January 1995, coaching NVQs will be available in swimming, windsurfing, football, karate, basketball, fitness, hockey and lawn tennis.

  Ms Hoey
  To ask the Secretary for National Heritage which sports will be funded under the reorganised Sports Council.

  Mr. Sproat
  As I announced to the House on 8 July,Official Report, columns 584-86, it will be for the new English Sports Council to decide on which sports to concentrate its resources.

  Ms Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when he last met the Sports Council; what was discussed at the meeting; and what conclusions were agreed.

  Mr. Sproat
  My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for National Heritage, met members of the Sports Council on an informal basis on 12 September and discussed a range of issues with them. I met the council on 17 October to hear its views on our proposals for the future structure and focus of the new United Kingdom and English Sports councils.

  European Football Championships
  Ms Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what role he plans for the football supporters associations in the planning of the European football championship.
  1300
  Mr. Sproat
  Responsibility for planning the 1996 European Football Championship rests with the tournament organisers, the Football Association. The FA, together with the Football league, the FA Premier league and the Football trust hold regular meetings with the football supporter organisations to discuss, amongst other things, the arrangements for the championship.

  Ms Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will make a statement on co-operation with the Football Association in the planning and running of the 1996 European Football Championship.

  Mr. Sproat
  The Department of National Heritage has worked closely with the Football Association from the start, both in securing the tournament for England, and on promotional and diplomatic matters. My officials are involved in the detailed arrangements for the championship through representation, with observer status, on the FA's central co-ordinating committee, and a separate FA working group on security and safety.

  National Lottery
  Ms Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when he expects the start up costs for the National Lottery to be repaid.

  Mr. Sproat
  The national lottery distribution fund—NLDF—will receive its first payment from proceeds of the national lottery on Tuesday 22 November 1994. The setting up and administration costs of the Office of the National Lottery, and any administrative costs incurred by the distributing bodies in preparing to process applications for national lottery grants, including sums to be repaid to the Treasury in respect of set up costs already paid for from public funds, will be drawn down from the NLDF as required after that date.

  The setting up costs of Camelot Group plc are a commercial operations matter. I have asked the director-general of the national lottery to write to the hon. Member on this point and to place copies of his response in the Library of the House.

  Channel 5
  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if any decision has been taken to make Channel 5 an analogue television service, and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 1 November 1994]The basis on which the Channel 5 licence is being advertised was published on 1 November 1994 by the Independent Television Commission. It allows bidders to apply on the basis of analogue or digital transmission.

  Hearing Disabilities
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans he has for(a) providing assistance for and (b) funding sport for people with a hearing disability.

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 1 November 1994]The Great Britain Sports Council has offered the British Deaf Sports Council a grant for 1994–95 of £52,000, channelled through the British Sports Association for the Disabled. We have also emphasised the importance of people with disabilities being able to benefit from national lottery funds.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Public Appointments
  Mrs. Maddock
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what percentage of public appointments were held by women at the most recent date for which figures are available.

  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  I refer the hon. Member to the Cabinet Office entry in the 1993 edition of "Public Bodies". The figures for the 1994 edition are still being collected and will be published in due course.

  Cash and Running Costs Limit
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what proposals there are to change the 1994–95 cash limit or running costs limit in respect of security and intelligence services.

  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply my right hon Friend the Prime Minister gave to the

  Name

  Post

  Salary

  Duration

  Party

  The right Hon. the Lord Carlisle of Bucklow QC

  Chairman, Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (ACOBA)

  None

  1 November 1988 to 31 December 1994

  Conservative

  The right Hon. the Lord Thomson of Monifieth KT PC

  Member of ACOBA and Political Honours Scrutiny Committee (PHSC)

  None for either

  ACOBA: 1 November 1989 to 31 October 1995 PHSC: 9 November 1992 for duration of current Government

  Labour

  The right hon. the Lord Cledwyn CH PC

  Member of PHSC

  None

  9 November 1992 for duration of current Government

  Labour

  Nolan Committee
  Sir Nicholas Fairbairn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what are the estimated costs of the proposed new body to investigate standards in public life in respect of(a) premises, (b) hon. Members and (c) civil servants supporting it; and how many civil servants will be involved.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Arrangements for the setting up and operation of the standing committee on standards in public life are not yet completed.

  Sir Nicholas Fairbairn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how and by whom the members of the proposed new body or standards in public life have been chosen; and how and why a particular judge was chosen as chairman.

  Mr. David Hunt
  My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister appointed the chairman of the committee on standards in public life after consultation with the Lord Chancellor; he appointed the members of the committee following consultation with Lord Nolan, and with the leader of the Opposition and the leader of the Liberal Democratic party.

  Sir Nicholas Fairbairn
  To ask the Chancellor of the 1302
  hon. Member for Plymouth, Sutton (Mr. Streeter) on 1 November 1994, Official Report, column 1096–97.

  Next Steps Agencies
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will publish the list of(a) the chief executives of the next steps agencies together with their salaries and (b) the salaries of the civil servants who were responsible for similar functions prior to the establishment of those agencies.

  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible and place a copy of the letter in the Libraries of the House.

  Quangos
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster which former hon. Members of this House have been appointed since 1988 by his Department to quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations; and if he will list, in each case, the title of the post, the salary, the duration of the appointment, and the party which each represented as an hon. Member.

  Mr. Robert G. Hughes

  Duchy of Lancaster what remit the proposed body on standards in public life will have in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Lord Nolan's Committee's remit extends to Scotland as elsewhere and it is free to set its own priorities within that remit.

  Advisory Panel on Equal Opportunities
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) what are the terms of reference for the new advisory panel on equal opportunities in the civil service;

  (2) when he expects the report of the advisory panel on equal opportunities in the civil service to be completed.

  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  The advisory panel's terms of reference are:"to advise the Head of the Home Civil Service on steps to be taken to improve the representation in senior management positions of people of ethnic minority origin and people with disabilities, with particular reference to recruitment, career development, retention and other factors identified by the Panel as relevant; and to make recommendations".

  The panel first met on Monday 12 September. It is expected to meet regularly over the next few months and

  1303
  plans to submit a report of its findings and recommendations to Sir Robin Butler by April 1995.

  Official Report
  Mr. Forman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will arrange for the Official Report, to be distributed free to public libraries and sold to the public at the marginal cost after official demand has been met.

  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  Under long-standing arrangements aimed at facilitating public access to Government information, local authority libraries already qualify for a considerable discount on all HMSO publications, including the Official Report.

  Market research on the prospects for increasing the distribution of the Official Report has recently been undertaken by MORI on behalf of HMSO. The findings are currently under consideration.

  Charterline
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the final total cost to public funds of the Charterline, broken down into component costs; and what was the final total of calls it received.

  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible and place a copy of the letter in the Libraries of the House.

  Spencer Stuart Consultants
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many contracts his Department or Government agencies responsible to his Department have entered into with Spencer Stuart consultants in the last two years.

  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  The Cabinet Office, its agencies, HMSO and COI have not entered into any contracts with Spencer Stuart consultants in the last two years.

  "Permanent Secretary's Handbook"
  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will review the case for placing a copy of the "Permanent Secretary's Handbook" in the Members' Library and explain to the House the decision he reaches.

  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  No. The reply of 9 March,Official Report, column 256, given to the hon. Member by my right hon. Friend the Member for Bristol, West (Mr. Waldegrave) remains valid.

  Citizens Charter
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will ensure that every departmental version of the citizens charter is available to the public from a central source in his office.

  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  Individual public service organisations are responsible for publishing and distributing their charters to uses of their services.

  My Department runs a citizens charter publication line on 0345 223242 which sends out citizens charter publications, including copies of the guides to the citizens
  1304
  charter White Papers. It also sends out a list of departmental contact points from which copies of any of the 40 follow-up charters can be ordered:

  Table 1: Published charters and how to obtain them.

  Telephone number

  United Kingdom: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

  Contributors' Charter

  091 225 7522

  Social Security Contributions Agency

  Employers' Charter

  091 225 7522

  Social Security Contributions Agency

  Taxpayer's Charter

  Please see Table II

  H.M Customs and Excise

  Taxpayer's Charter

  Tax Offices, Tax Enquiry

  Inland Revenue

  Centres or phone: 071 438 6420

  Traveller's Charter

  From Ports and Airports

  H.M. Customs and Excise

  or phone:071 202 4227

  Great Britain: England, Scotland and Wales

  Benefits Agency Customer Charter

  Please see Table II

  Social Security Benefits Agency

  Child Support Agency Charter

  0345 133 133

  Child Support Agency

  Jobseeker's Charter

  Please see Table II

  Employment Service

  Passenger's Charter

  Please see Table II

  British Rail

  Redundancy Payments Service Charter

  0800 848 489

  Employment Department

  England and Wales

  Courts Charter

  Court Service Secretariat

  Lord Chancellor's Department

  071 210 1722

  Home Office Crown

  Prosecution Service

  England Only

  London Underground's Customer Charter: "the best possible service"

  Customer Service Centre 071 918 4040

  London Underground Ltd.

  Charter for Further Education

  Publications Centre

  Department for Education

  081 533 2000

  Charter for Higher Education

  Publications Centre

  Department for Environment

  081 533 2000

  Council Tenant's Charter

  071 276 0900

  Department of the Environment

  Parent's Charter

  Publications Centre

  Department for Education

  081 533 2000

  Patient's Charter

  Please see Table II

  Department of Health

  Road User's Charter

  Please see Table II

  The Highways Agency

  The London Bus Passenger's

  Passenger Services

  Charter

  071 918 4300

  London Transport Buses

  Scotland Only

  Council Tenant's Charter for

  0345 741 741

  Scotland

  Scottish Office

  1305

  Table 1: Published charters and how to obtain them.

  Telephone number

  Further and Higher Education Charter for Scotland

  0345 741 741

  Scottish Office

  Justice Charter for Scotland

  0345 741 741

  Scottish Office

  Parent's Charter for Scotland

  0345 741 741

  Scottish Office

  Patient's Charter for Scotland

  0345 741 741

  Scottish Office

  Wales Only

  Charter for Further Education

  0222 825862

  Welsh Office

  Charter for Higher Education

  0222 825829

  Welsh Office

  Council Tenant's Charter for Wales

  0222 825282

  Welsh Office

  Parent's Charter for Wales

  0222 761456 Xt 5364

  Welsh Office

  Patient's Charter for Wales

  0222 823219

  Welsh Office

  Northern Ireland Only

  Bus Passenger's Charter

  From all Ulsterbus offices or

  Ulsterbus/Citybus

  phone: 0232 35404

  Child Support Agency Charter

  0345 139 700 outside Belfast

  Northern Ireland Child Support Agency

  (local rate) or 0232 896700 within Greater Belfast

  Tenant's Charter for NI

  0232 240588

  Northern Ireland Housing Executive

  Courts Charter for Northern Ireland

  0232 328594

  Northern Ireland Courts Service

  The Citizen's Charter for Northern Ireland

  Full report from HMSO (£8.50).

  Department of Finance and Personnel

  For copy of summary Guide, phone: 0800 243 174

  Parent's Charter

  0247 270077 Xt 2366

  Department of Education for NI

  Charter for Patients and Clients

  HPSS Management Executive

  Department of Health and Social Services, NI

  0232 524282

  Railway Passenger's Charter

  Northern Ireland Railways

  NI Railways

  Headquarters 0232 235282

  Royal Ulster Constabulary Charter

  From police stations, or phone Ruc Headquarters: 0232

  Royal Ulster Constabulary

  650222 Xt 22525

  Social Security Agency Charter

  Chief Executive's Office 0232 522826

  NI Social Security Agency

  Training and Employment Agency Charter

  0232 244300

  Training and Employment Agency

  Table Part II

  Taxpayer's Charter (Customs and Excise)
  Available from your Local VAT Enquiry Office. Their addresses and telephone numbers can be found in the phonebook under "Customs and Excise".

  Benefits Agency Customer Charter
  Available from all District Offices of the Agency. Their addresses and telephone numbers can be found in the phonebook under "Benefits Agency".
  1306
  For bulk orders you can write to:

  DSS Distribution Centre

  DSS Leaflets Unit

  Manchester Road

  Heywood

  Lancashire OL10 2PZ (Quote CUST 1)

  Jobseeker's Charter
  Available from all local Jobcentres and Unemployment Benefit Offices. The addresses and telephone numbers of which can be found in the phonebook under "Employment Service".

  Passenger's Charter
  Available from all British Rail stations and outlets or by writing to:

  British Railways

  Euston House

  24 Eversholt Street

  PO Box 100

  London NW1 1DZ

  Patient's Charter
  Copies of the Patient's Charter for England can be obtained by writing to (no stamp required):

  The Patient's Charter

  FREEPOST

  London

  SE99 7XU

  Road User's Charter

  Copies are available from most motorway service areas, AA shops and offices, the regional offices of the Department of Transport and the Highways Agency or from the Agency's Headquarters at the following address:

  The Highways Agency

  Room 12/33

  St. Christopher House

  Southwark Street

  London

  SE1 0TE

  Departmental Property
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what properties are owned or leased by his Department for the use of Ministers; what was the total running cost for each property for the latest year available broken down into(a) furniture and fittings, (b) maintenance, (c) staffing, including the number of butlers, cooks and housekeepers, (d) food and hospitality and (e) other costs; what is the estimated value of each property; and how many times in the latest year the property was stayed in by a Minister.

  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  Excluding departmental office buildings, we have no such properties for the use of Ministers.

TRANSPORT

  Road Schemes
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list all the European Community directives that have to be taken into consideration in the preparations for new road schemes.

  Mr. Watts
  This is an operational matter for the Highways Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.
  1307
  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Harry Cohen, dated 3 November 1994:
  John Watts, the Minister for Railways and Roads, has asked me to write to you about your question in the House on which European Community directives are taken into consideration in the preparations for the new road schemes.
  The Highways Agency takes into account all relevant European Community Directives that have been implemented in United Kingdom law in the preparation of new Trunk Road schemes.
  The directives which have a major impact on the work of the Highways Agency are listed in the attached Annex.

  European Community Directives - Having an impact on Highways Agency Work

  Number

  Title

  93/36/EEC

  Public Supplies Contracts

  93/37/EEC

  Public Works Contracts

  92/50/EEC

  Public Services Contracts

  89/665/EEC

  Remedies

  83/189/EEC

  Notification of Standards and Regulations

  88/182/EEC

  Notification of Standards and Regulations

  90/230/EEC

  Notification of Standards and Regulations

  89/106/EEC

  Construction Products

  89/686/EEC

  Personal Protective Equipment

  93/95/EEC

  Personal Protective Equipment

  89/336/EEC

  Electromagnetic Compatibility

  92/31/EEC

  Electromagnetic Compatibility

  89/391/EEC

  Health and Safety

  89/392/EEC

  Machine Safety

  91/368/EEC

  Machine Safety

  93/44/EEC

  Machine Safety

  73/23/EEC

  Low Voltage

  71/354/EEC

  Units of Measurement

  80/181/EEC

  Units of Measurement

  85/384/EEC

  Architects Professional Qualifications

  89/48/EEC

  Professional Qualification

  85/337/EEC1

  Environmental Assessment

  92/43/EEC1

  Habitats

  1These are examples of EC Environmental Directives that affect HA, it is not possible to list all of them or assess their impact on HA work.

  M42 (Planning Blight)
  Mr. Mills
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will act to purchase those houses suffering from planning blight as a result of his proposals to widen the M42 in the constituency of Meriden; and if he will make a statement.

  (2) if he will reconsider his proposal for widening the M42 by two lanes each side in the constituency of Meriden; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Watts
  These questions are operational matters for the Highways Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to my hon. Friend.

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Iain Mills, dated 3 November 1994:
  The Minister of State for Railways and Roads has asked me to write to you in response to your Parliamentary Questions about the M42 widening in Meriden since they are operational matters for the Highways Agency.
  I can confirm that all properties which fulfil the conditions of the statutory blight legislation will be bought by the Highways Agency. In addition, those properties which satisfy the criteria for discretionary purchase will also be bought. The criteria requite that the proposed roadworks should be predicted to have a serious effect on a property, as defined in the criteria and that there should be a case on hardship grounds for acquiring it. Twenty one properties in the vicinity of junction 5 have so far been purchased and other
  1308
  applications are being considered. I understand that Steven Norris has now written to you about enquiries from four of your constituents.
  Compensation is also available after construction for depreciation in value of property caused by widening and eligibility for noise insulation will be assessed.
  The proposals for the widening were presented to the public earlier this year. This was so that they could express views about the options. The many comments received since then are still being assessed, but will be taken into account by the Secretary of State in deciding on the future progress of the proposals.

  Railway Disasters
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what sums were made available from public funds to the relatives of victims in respect of expenses arising for the public inquiries concerning(a) the King's Cross and (b) Clapham railway disasters.

  Mr. Watts
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Traffic and Parking Control
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to take steps to monitor the effectiveness of traffic control and parking; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  Counties, metropolitan districts and London boroughs, as local traffic authorities, are primarily responsible for monitoring the effectiveness of traffic control and parking on all local roads in their areas. My right hon. Friend monitors the effectiveness of the legal framework within which the local traffic authorities must work.

  Departmental Property
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what properties are owned or leased by his Department for the use of Ministers; what was the total running cost for each property for the latest year available broken down into(a) furniture and fittings, (b) maintenance, (c) staffing, including the number of butlers, cooks and housekeepers, (d) food and hospitality and (e) other costs; what is the estimated value of each property; and how many times in the latest year the property was stayed in overnight by a Minister.

  Mr. Norris
  My Department does not own or lease any property for ministerial use as an official residence.

  Horse Riding (Safety)
  Mr. Michael Spicer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 31 October, what representations he has received regarding the adequacy of the guidance laid down in the highway code governing the safety clothing and markings for horse riders at night; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  We received 34 communications in the last year on road safety for horse-riders. Ascertaining how many of these mentioned conspicuity could be done only at disproportionate expense.

  Underground Stations, London
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what report he has received from London Underground Ltd. as to when Westminster underground station will reopen;
  1309
  (2) what steps he is taking to prevent further disruption of transport services in London following the incidents at Heathrow and Westminster underground stations.

  Mr. Norris
  The prevention of further disruption of transport services in London following the incidents affecting Heathrow and Westminster underground stations is a matter for the transport operators concerned.

  At Heathrow, the British Airports Authority has set up an inquiry into the causes of the Heathrow express project tunnel collapse, and are working with the contractors to secure the continued safe operation of the airport and minimise inconveniences to passengers. London Underground Limited will resume services through the Piccadilly line underground tunnels serving Heathrow terminal 4 as soon as it and the Health and Safety Executive's railway inspectorate have determined that it is safe to do so.

  At Westminster, London Underground is taking urgent remedial measures to prevent further incidents associated with the construction works there, and to enable the earliest possible reopening of the station.

  Traffic Levels
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate the relationships between changes in traffic and(a) increases in road capacity and (b) economic growth.

  Mr. Watts
  During the last 15 years, traffic has grown at about one and a half times the rate of growth in gross domestic product. The Department's publication "National Road Traffic Forecast Great Britain (1989)" describes the close relationship between national traffic growth and national economic growth.

  The relationship between traffic growth and increases in road capacity is a complex subject, which has been studied by the Department's standing advisory committee on trunk road assessment. The report will be published with the Government's response in due course.

  Investment Projects
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will list those public investment projects within his Department's responsibility which have attracted private capital and which have been commenced since November 1993;

  (2) how much private capital has been invested in public investment projects within his Department's responsibility since the 1992 autumn statement.

  Mr. Norris
  The following such projects have been commenced since November 1993

  Ashford International Passenger Station (£40 million)

  London Underground Track Maintenance £0.5 million)

  London Underground Information Technology Services (£10 million)

  Between the 1992 autumn statement and the end of the current financial year, an estimated £370 million of private capital will have been invested, with forward commitments for a further £1·1 billion.

  Additional schemes with an estimated total value of some £3·5 billion are currently subject to competition.

  Cyclists (Safety)
  Mr. Michael Spicer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 31 October, what representations he has received regarding the adequacy of the regulations and the guidance contained in the highway code in respect of lamps, reflectors and safety clothing for cyclists riding at night; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  In the past 12 months I have replied to seven representations about the adequacy of the Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations 1989. In addition, the Department receives a large number of representations on bicycle safety. Ascertaining how many of these mentioned conspicuity could be done only at disproportionate expense.

  Spencer Stuart Consultants
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many contracts his Department or Government agencies responsible to his Department have entered into with Spencer Stuart consultants in last two years.

  Mr. Norris
  None.

  Road Casualties
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will announce the next sets of road casualty figures.

  Mr. Norris
  Third quarter 1994 provisional estimates will be announced on 12 January 1995.

  Bus Lanes
  Mr. Butcher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what studies he(a) has conducted and (b) plans to conduct into the speed at which buses complete their journeys using bus-only lanes compared to journey completion times for buses without the benefit of bus-only lanes on same route.

  Mr. Norris
  We are monitoring several schemes to see what effect they have on bus journey times. Reports will be published in due course.

  Congestion and Pollution
  Mr. Butcher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will conduct a study of the extent to which bus-only lanes cause increased traffic congestion and pollution.

  Mr. Norris
  I have no plans to do so at present.

  Mr. Butcher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made as to whether stationary traffic causes more pollution than moving traffic in urban areas.

  Mr. Norris
  Research is regularly undertaken by the Transport Research Laboratory and other laboratories to assess the emissions characteristics of motor vehicles operating under a variety of driving conditions. This shows that below an optimum speed of some 40 to 50 miles per hour, the slower the speed the greater the level of emissions from the vehicle. The higher density of stationary or very slow moving traffic compared with free moving traffic will also affect overall levels of emissions.

  Mr. Butcher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will conduct a review of the extent to
  1311
  which left-turn only and right-turn only lanes have slowed down traffic flow through junctions.

  Mr. Norris
  Traffic management is a matter for the local highway authority. Right—and left—turn only lanes are necessary in some cases for the safe and efficient flow of traffic through junctions and we have no evidence that they are in general being used inappropriately. I do not currently plan to review their use.

  Mr. Butcher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the impact of reductions in queuing at junctions on traffic congestion and urban pollution.

  Mr. Norris
  Delays and queues at junctions are the primary cause of traffic congestion in urban areas, thus reducing queuing at junctions has a direct effect on congestion. Where road and junction schemes in urban areas are proposed to reduce congestion, the impact of reductions in queuing at junctions is assessed as a matter of course.

  Stop-start traffic generates more exhaust gases per vehicle than smoothly flowing traffic. A reduction in queuing can be expected to reduce local air pollution levels.

  Traffic Lights
  Mr. Butcher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made on whether traffic light phasing at junctions where congestion occurs regularly is examined and, if necessary, re-phased frequently enough.

  Mr. Norris
  The timing of traffic lights is for local highway authorities, who make their own arrangements for assessment. In London, reviews are normally on a three year cycle, to allow for changes in traffic densities. But modern systems of urban traffic control where they are installed are self-adapting and so do not need regular review.

  Mr. Butcher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will visit the United States of America to examine the effect on urban traffic flow of permitting traffic to turn right through red lights if the driver is satisfied that there is no oncoming traffic entering the junction from the left.

  Mr. Norris
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport will take every opportunity to listen to United States experience on a range of topics including all aspects of urban traffic flow.

  Cones Hotline
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what have been the costs to date of advertising and running the cones hotline.

  Mr. Watts
  This is an operational matter for the Highways Agency, I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Bollards
  Mr. Butcher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many traffic bollards have been installed in the most recent 12-month period of which figures are available.

  (2) what information he has on how many bollards are currently in place.
  1312
  Mr. Norris
  The Department is not responsible for monitoring the installation of bollards on local authority roads and no information is held centrally about the number installed in any 12-month period. Research carried out for the Department is 1993 suggests that there are approximately 131,000 bollard-mounted traffic signs in England.

  Road Markings
  Mr. Butcher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether visual amenity is part of the planning consideration for the acceptability of white lines or yellow lines on all roads other than trunk roads.

  Mr. Norris
  DOT guidance to local authorities advises that a lighter shade of yellow may be used for regulatory road markings in environmentally sensitive areas.

  Mr. Butcher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from the Department of the Environment regarding the extent of white lines and yellow lines on country lanes, minor roads and suburban roads.

  Mr. Norris
  We are engaged in ongoing discussions with other interested Departments, including DOE, on the use of road markings in environmentally sensitive areas, but we have not received any representations on this particular issue.

  Traffic Lights
  Mr. Butcher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many traffic lights there are in England and Wales currently; and how many there were in(a) 1984, (b) 1974 and (c)

  Mr. Norris
  The information is not available in the form requested.

  Motorways
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will make a further statement on the implementation of his policy on the introduction of private sector management of motorways;

  (2) if he will make a further statement on the implementation of his policy on motorway tolling;

  (3) what response he has received from the private sector to his policy on electronic charging for motorway use and the private management of motorways.

  Mr. Watts
  Policy on these matters was set out by the then Secretary of State for Transport on 2 December 1993 at column 650.

  Some 30 consortia comprising over 70 companies have submitted proposals for electronic tolling systems for the programme of research, development and trials announced in that statement. We are now assessing these in order to select a limited number for test-track and on-road trials next year.

  The statement also announced our intention to identify projects under which the private sector would design, build, finance and operate roads for which they would receive payment from Government in relation to use. Four such DBFO projects have been identified for the first contracts, two of which will involve private sector management of motorways. Pre-qualifying bids have been received from 17 consortia comprising over 70 firms.

  Railway Rolling Stock
  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what arrangements currently exist for the refurbishment of railway rolling stock; and when he expects the arrangements needed under the Railways Act 1993 to be in place.

  Mr. Watts
  Refurbishment of British Rails's passenger rolling-stock is the responsibility, within BR, of the three rolling-stock leasing companies.

  Vehicle Excise Duty
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much revenue was raised by vehicle excise duty in each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. Norris
  The net receipts after allowing for refunds and other adjustments were:

  Year

  Vehicle Excise Duty £millions

  1984–85

  2,264

  1985–86

  2,426

  1986–87

  2,520

  1987–88

  2,598

  1988–89

  2,767

  1989–90

  2,948

  1990–91

  2,923

  1991–92

  2,931

  1992–93

  3,225

  1993–94

  3,655

  Operation Seafire
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the times at which, during exercise Operation Seafire on 17 October off the west Wales coast(a) a call was received from Stena Sea Lynx for helicopter assistance and firefighters, (b) a request was made by HM Coastguard for helicopter assistance from RAF Chivenor and RAF Valley, (c) helicopters took off from RAF Chivenor and RAF Valley, (d) a helicopter from RAF Chivenor landed in West Glamorgan to pick up firefighters, (e) the helicopter took off from West Glamorgan, (f) the helicopter arrived over Stena Sea Lynx, (g) firefighters began to be lowered on to Stena Sea Lynx and (h) lowering firefighters was completed.

  Mr. Norris
  During exercise Seafire on 10 October:

  a) 0625

  b) 0628

  c) RAF Chivenor at 0649 and RAF Valley at 0658 and 0706

  d) 0705

  e) 0710

  f) 0730

  g) 0749

  h) not recorded.

  Road (West Yorkshire)
  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will consider taking no further action on road development schemes in west Yorkshire until the Secretary of State for Health publishes the results of all current studies on air pollution; and if he will make a statement;
  1314
  (2) what consultations his Department is involved in with the Department of Health on the impact of road schemes on west Yorkshire on the health of communities and in particular the health of children; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Watts
  These are operational matters for the Highways Agency, I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Market Testing
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his current calculation of the costs of preparation for market testing in his Department in terms of(a) payments to consultants and (b) other costs.

  Mr. Norris
  Payments to consultants for work on those items in the Department's 1992–93 and 1993–94 competing for quality programmes completed by 30 June 1994 totalled £1·815 million. Expenditure on the Department's own market testing staff amounted to £0·268 million up to 30 June 1994.

  Channel Tunnel Rail Link
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received regarding compensation for people living alongside rail lines being used by channel tunnel passenger and freight services who are affected by increased noise and vibration; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Watts
  A number of representations have been received. The Land Compensation Act 1973 provides for compensation to be paid in certain circumstances when the value of property is reduced as a result of physical factors such as noise and vibration arising from the use of new or altered public works or where there has been a change of use in respect of the works - other than an intensification of an existing use. It is for people who believe they have claims for compensation to submit them to the responsible authority, in this case Railtrack, for consideration. Further information is given in a guide recently produced by Railtrack for householders who may be considering claims. A copy is being placed in the Library.

  Kidderminster Bypass
  Mr. Hawksley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the inspectors' report into the Kidderminster, Blakedown and Hagley bypass.

  Mr. Watts
  The report is currently being considered by the Secretaries of State for the Environment and for Transport. It will he published at the same time as their decision on the orders for the scheme.

  Bull Bars
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many reported accidents in the last 12 months involving cyclists resulted in injury following collision with vehicles fitted with bull bars.

  Mr. Norris
  The information requested is not available.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what analysis he has made of research into the severity of injuries to cyclists from vehicles fitted with bull bars.
  1315
  Mr. Norris
  The Department is currently carrying out research into accidents involving vehicles with bull bars to determine whether or not they are causing increased injuries to cyclists as well as pedestrians.

  Trunk Roads
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will publish the report of the Standing Advisory Committee on Trunk Road Assessment.

  Mr. Watts
  We will publish our response, together with the report, in due course.

  Accident Statistics
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will estimate the total reduction in costs of fatal and serious accident casualties in each year since 1986 at the 1993 values used in the table C.I of the 18th report of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution; and if he will give the cumulative total;

  (2) if he will estimate the effect on fatal and serious injuries of the national roads programme spending.

  Mr. Norris
  I will write to my hon. Friend.

  Lorries
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will include piggyback lorries in the legislation allowing heavier lorries to be used in combined rail-road journeys;

  (2) if he will start work immediately on the upgrading of a rail route from Scotland to the channel tunnel to allow piggyback traffic.

  (3) if he will make it his policy to press for standardisation of dimensions of containers, rail gauges and related matters;

  (4) what plans he has to increase the attractiveness of railways as an element in an inter-modal transport system.

  (5) what plans he has to support the Piggyback Consortium plans as outlined in its final report published in April.

  Mr. Watts
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Traffic
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he intends to publish the report on the generation of traffic submitted to him by SACTRA.

  Mr. Watts
  I will publish my response, together with the report, in due course.

  Highway Contracts
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many highway contracts with an estimated value of £1 million or more have been advertised in the Official Journal of the European Communities, by each EU country, in each of the last three years.

  Mr. Watts
  [holding answer 2 November 1994]: This is an operational matter for the Highways Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to my hon. Friend.
  1316
  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Anthony Steen, dated 3 November 1994:
  You put down a Parliamentary Question for answer by the Secretary of State about the number of highways contracts worth in excess of £1 million advertised in the Official Journal of the EU.
  As the information requested relates to operational matters for which the Highways Agency is now responsible, as promised by the Minister, John Watts, I am replying to your Question.
  However, I regret I am unable to provide the information you requested.
  The Highways Agency voluntarily advertise all highways works contracts with an estimated value of £1 million or more in the Official Journal. The EU threshold for compulsory advertisement is those worth ECU 5 million (currently equivalent to about £3·7 million) or more. The Agency does not keep a central record of the number of such advertisements and the information cannot be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.
  Regarding similar advertisements placed by other EU countries, it is not the Agency's policy to monitor these and I regret, therefore, that this information is not available within the Agency.

  M11 Link
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the proposed M11 link road's environmental barriers along all its route comply with the highest standard in his Department's design guide for environmental barriers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  This is an operational matter for the Highways Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Harry Cohen, dated 3 November 1994:
  The Minister for Transport in London has asked me to write to you in response to your Parliamentary Question about the design of environmental barriers on the Al2 Hackney Wick to M11 Link Road since this is an operational matter for the Highways Agency.
  The design of the barriers which it is intended to provide on the Link Road complies with the Department of Transport's current standards which are contained in the Specification for Highway Works and Technical Memorandum H14/76.
  The design guide to which you refer has been widely circulated in draft but will not emerge in its final form until the end of this year. Clearly it will be possible to take account fully of its recommendations only in future road designs, and there will be no requirement to revise existing designs or schemes retrospectively. However, we shall strive to provide the highest standard of environmental protection on the Link Road consistent with budget and programme.

  Trans-European Road Network
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what changes in the Trans-European road network he has recommended to the European Commission as part of its 1995 review of the network; and if he will publish a map of the proposed TERN.

  Mr. Watts
  The amendments the Government have proposed to the European Commission as part of the review of the Trans-European road network were announced by my right hon. Friend the Member for Norfolk, South (Mr. MacGregor) on 30 June. They are listed in my Department's press notice of that date, to which was attached a map of the proposed network in the United Kingdom. A copy is in the Library.

SCOTLAND

  Hunting
  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many licences were issued in 1992, 1993 and to date in 1994 to allow hunting on Forestry Commission land; what was the total income from such licences; and whether these were open to public tender.

  Sir Hector Monro
  The Forestry Commission issued 73 permits to allow hunting on its land in 1992, 78 permits in 1993 and 81 permits in 1994. The Commission makes no charge for hunting and permits are not subject to public tender.

  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many licences to shoot birds and game on Forestry Commission land were issued in 1992, 1993 and 1994; to which bodies or organisations; and what was the total income from such licences;

  (2) which hunts have licences to hunt on Forestry Commission land; and in which areas.

  Sir Hector Monro
  I shall write to hon. Member as soon as possible and place a copy of the signed letter in the Libraries of the House.

  Agricultural or Forestry operations

  Preventing serious damage to land, crops etc.

  Scientific, educational or conservation purposes

  Development under Town and Country Planning (S) Act 1972

  Investigation of a possible offence or the gathering of evidence

  1992

  2

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1993

  —

  3

  4

  1

  23

  1994

  —

  2

  3

  1

  7

  Health Care International
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, (1) pursuant to his answer of 26 October,Official Report, column 722, how much regional selective assistance has been paid up to date to Health Care International in Clydebank;

  (2) whether there have been regular consultations between Health Care International in Clydebank and his Department over nurse recruitment and training; and what was the outcome;

  (3) whether Health Care International in Clydebank is now free to tender for any NHS work anywhere in Britain;

  (4) if he will place in the Library a copy of the terms under which his Department undertook to give regional selective assistance to Health Care International in Clydebank;

  (5) what reimbursement of nurse training costs has been made by Health Care International in Clydebank in respect of the authorisation he gave to the hospital in 1987;

  (6) what contacts there have been at ministerial level between the Ministry of Defence and his Department over the future of Health Care International in Clydebank; and what was the outcome;

  (7) whether Health Care International in Clydebank now has exactly the same competitive status as the Western infirmary, Glasgow royal infirmary and Gartnavel general hospital when the Greater Glasgow health board seeks bids for its works.

  Public Appointments
  Mrs. Maddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of public appointments made by his Department were held by women at the most recent date for which figures are available.

  Mr. Lang
  I shall write to hon. Member as soon as possible and place a copy of the signed letter in the Libraries of the House.

  Badgers
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many licences have been granted in Scotland for interference with badger setts following the Badger Act 1991, now the Protection of Badgers Act 1992; and for which purposes listed in section 10 of the 1992 Act such licences were issued.

  Sir Hector Monro
  Eight licences to interfere with badger setts in Scotland have been issued by the Agriculture Department. I am advised that Scottish Natural Heritage has issued 42 such licences. A detailed breakdown including the purposes for which these licences were issued is set out in the following table:

  Mr. Stewart
  I shall write to hon. Member as soon as possible and place a copy of the signed letter in the Libraries of the House.

  Paramedical Professions
  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people are currently employed, and were employed in the last four years in each health board, as(a) speech and language therapists, (b) clinical psychologists, (c) hospital pharmacists, (d) medical laboratory scientific officers, (e) estate officers, (f) community and psychiatric nurses, (g) hospital physicists, (h) radiographers, (i) medical technical officers, (j) chiropodists, (k) occupational therapists, (l) physiotherapists, (m) dieticians and (n) district nurses.

  Mr. Stewart
  I shall write to hon. Member as soon as possible and place a copy of the signed letter in the Libraries of the House.

  Caledonian MacBrayne
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the consultants report on the future of Caledonian MacBrayne.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I shall write to hon. Member as soon as possible and place a copy of the signed letter in the Libraries of the House.

  Probate
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will introduce legislation to allow banks
  1319
  and other institutions in Scotland to give effect to instructions regarding the disposal of assets in Scotland belonging to a deceased person in respect of whose estate a court in England and Wales has granted probate to a person resident in England and Wales without having to have grant of probate resealed in Scotland.

  Mr. James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Administration of Estates Act 1971 already makes provision for the reciprocal recognition in any one part of the United Kingdom of grants and confirmations issued in any other part, without the need for resealing.

  Super-quarries
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what consultation he has had with the British Geological Survey over proposed super-quarries in Harris.

  Mr. Stewart
  On 28 February 1994 my right hon. Friend directed that Redland Aggregates Ltd, should provide a written statement further to illustrate the visual impact of working the proposed Lingarabay quarry in South Harris to different contour levels. In an official letter dated 21 July 1994, the British Geological Survey was invited to comment on the written statement produced. This letter and the associated replies were subsequently circulated to the parties to the current public local inquiry. My right hon. Friend has not otherwise consulted the British Geological Survey about proposed super-quarries in Harris.

  Homes
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many new homes were completed by local authorities in Scotland in 1978–79 and 1993–94; and how many he expects will be completed in 1994–95 and 1995–96.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Scottish local authorities reported the completion of 6,131 dwellings in 1978–79 and 440 dwellings in 1993–94. Local authorities are free to decide what proportion of the substantial capital resources at their disposal for 1994–95 and future years for investment in housing in their area should be used for new building.

  Departmental Property
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what properties are owned or leased by his Department for the use of Ministers; what was the total running cost for each property for the latest year available broken down into(a) furniture and fittings, (b) maintenance, (c) staffing, including the number of butlers, cooks and housekeepers, (d) food and hospitality and (e) other costs; what is the estimated value of each property; and how many times in the latest year the property was stayed in overnight by a Minister.

  Mr. Lang
  I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible and place a copy of the signed letter in the Libraries of the House.

  Public Investment Projects
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much private capital has been invested in public investment projects within his Department's responsibility since the 1992 autumn statement.
  1320
  Mr. Lang
  I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible and place a copy of the signed letter in the Libraries of the House.

  Sheep Annual Premium
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many farmers have not yet received payment of their advance payments with respect to the 1994 sheep annual premium scheme.

  Sir Hector Monro
  I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible and place a copy of the signed letter in the Libraries of the House.

  Electricity Bills
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what was the average household electricity bill for each Scottish electricity company for each year since 1985, and the combined average for England and Wales,(a) in cash terms and (b) real terms;

  (2) what was the percentage change in average household electricity bills for each Scottish electricity company for each year since 1985; and the combined average for Scotland;

  (3) what was the change in the average household electricity bill for each Scottish electricity company for each year since 1985, and the combined average change each year (a) in cash terms and (b) real terms;

  (4) what was the price charged in pence per kWh by each Scottish electricity company to typical standard-tariff domestic customers for each year since 1985, and the combined figure for Scotland.

  Mr. Stewart
  I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible and place a copy of the signed letter in the Libraries of the House.

  Spencer Stuart Consultants
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many contracts his Department or Government agencies responsible to his Department have entered into with Spencer Stuart consultants in the last two years.

  Mr. Lang
  I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible and place a copy of the signed letter in the Libraries of the House.

  Capital Receipts
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will specify for each local authority in Scotland the amount of accumulated capital receipts.

  Mr. Stewart
  I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible and place a copy of the signed letter in the Libraries of the House.

  Electricity Supply
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was(a) the number of households and (b) the percentage of all households supplied by each Scottish electricity company.

  Mr. Stewart
  I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible and place a copy of the signed letter in the Libraries of the House.

  Water Boards
  Mr. Donhoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) when, and at what cost, the post of chief executive of the new water boards in Scotland will be advertised;

  (2) pursuant to his answer of 26 October, Official Report, column 728, how much the Scottish Office has spent in employing Andrew Rait Ltd. to assist the Scottish Office in recruiting the chief executives and chairmen of the new water and sewerage authorities;

  (3) pursuant to his answer of 26 October, Official Report, column 728, when the Scottish Office appointed Andrew Rait Ltd., to assist in the search for chief executives of the water authorities.

  Mr. Stewart
  The three chief executives posts will be advertised after Royal Assent has been obtained to the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Bill. Andrew Rait Ltd. was appointed on 24 August 1994 to assist in identifying potential chief executives. The cost of the exercise, including cost of advertisement, is estimated to be about £50,000.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 26 October,Official Report, column 728, if the Scottish Office has now decided on the names of the chief executives and the chairmen of the new water and sewerage authorities; and when these names were decided upon.

  Mr. Stewart
  These decisions have not yet been made.

  Licensing Laws
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans there are for extending licensing laws to allow shops to sell alcohol on a Sunday.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Provisions permitting off-sale premises in Scotland to sell alcoholic liquor on Sundays between 12.30 pm and 10 pm are contained in section 22 of the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994. An announcement about commencement of the provisions will be made shortly.

  Public Investment Projects
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list those public investment projects within his Department's responsibility which have attracted private capital and which have been commenced since November 1993.

  Mr. Lang
  Contracts for the following projects have been signed since November 1993:

  Ayrshire and Arran Health Board: elderly care beds.

  Dundee Teaching Hospitals Trust: biochemical analysing equipment.

  Lothian and Forth Valley Trusts: clinical waste disposal.

  Lothian Health Board: Western General Hospital Molecular Medicines Centre.

  Northern Trusts Consortium: clinical waste disposal.

  There may also be projects which have been started by, for example, health trusts which have not been notified to the Scottish Office because they are within delegated spending limits and so the information is not held centrally.

  There are also around 10 projects started before November 1993.

  In addition, many projects undertaken by bodies such as Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Scottish Homes and the New Towns attract private capital

  Voluntary Bodies
  Mr. Graham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what guidance he has given Scottish Natural Heritage over the grant of financial assistance to voluntary bodies; and if he will list those areas of work undertaken by voluntary organisations which are eligible for such assistance.

  Sir Hector Monro
  I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible and place a copy of the signed letter in the Library of the House.

  National Health Service
  Mr. George Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how much money has been transferred from each health board in Scotland to local authorities under resource transfer arrangements in respect of reductions in NHS continuing care beds for(a) learning disabilities, (b) psychiatric care, (c) geriatric care, (d) psycho-geriatric care and (e) physical disabilities in each year since 1991–92; and if he will make a statement on the level of resource transfer to local authorities;

  (2) how much money will be transferred from each health board in Scotland to local authorities under resource transfer arrangements in respect of planned reductions in NHS continuing care beds from 1 April for (a) learning disabilities, (b) psychiatric care, (c) geriatric care, (d) psycho-geriatric care and (e) physical disabilities;

  (3) how many NHS continuing care beds were available in each health board area in Scotland for (a) learning disabilities, (b) psychiatric care, (c) geriatric care, (d) psycho-geriatric care and (e) physical disabilities for each year since 1991–92;

  (4) how many NHS continuing care beds were staffed in each health board area in Scotland for (a) learning disabilities, (b) psychiatric care, (c) geriatric care, (d) psycho-geriatric care and (e) physical disabilities in each year since 1991–92;

  (5) how many additional NHS continuing care beds each health board in Scotland plans to close from 1 April for (a) learning disabilities, (b) psychiatric care, (c) geriatric care, (d) psycho-geriatric care and (e) physical disabilities and over what timescales; and what Government targets have been set for such closures;

  (6) what was the average number of occupied NHS continuing care beds in each health board area in Scotland for (a) learning disabilities, (b) psychiatric care, (c) geriatric care, (d) psycho-geriatric care and (e) physical disabilities for each year since 1991–92.

  Mr. Lang
  I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible and place a copy of the signed letter in the Library of the House.

  Sites of Special Scientific Interest
  Mr. Graham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total amount in grants and compensation given to landowners for protecting sites of special scientific interest in each of the last three years; and if he will list those grants or compensations which exceed £10,000 in any financial year.

  Sir Hector Monro
  I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible and place a copy of the signed letter in the Libraries of the House.

  Trusts
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when the provisions of section 9 of the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1990 conferring concurrent jurisdiction on the Sheriff court in respect of trusts below an annual income threshold will be brought into force; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Only a small number of cases has so far been brought before the Court of Session. We are studying how these cases have progressed in order to consider the need to confer concurrent jurisdiction on the sheriff court.

  Market Testing
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his current calculation of the costs of preparation for market testing in his Department in terms of(a) payments to consultants and (b) other costs.

  Mr. Lang
  I shall write to hon. Member as soon as possible and place a copy of the signed letter in the Libraries of the House.

  Forestry Commission
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will place in the Library a list of the Ordnance Survey grid references for each tract of land disposed of by the Forestry Commission during the years 1992 and 1993.

  Sir Hector Monro
  Lists giving details of the areas of forest land sold by the Forestry Commission in each calendar year since 1981 are held in the Library of the House. These do not include the Ordnance Survey grid references which could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Surveys
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 27 October,Official Report, columns 852-56, if he will place in the Library copies of the awareness of right to buy and rents to mortgages, public knowledge and perception of local government, water and sewerage, sustainable development, car crime, Scottish crime, NHS staff in Scotland, further and higher education for Scotland and Scottish Office central inquiry unit surveys.

  Mr. Lang
  I shall write to hon. Member as soon as possible and place a copy of the signed letter in the Libraries of the House.

  HIV/AIDS
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of his Department's funding for HIV and AIDS has been allocated to the voluntary sector for each year since 1985.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I shall write to hon. Member as soon as possible and place a copy of the signed letter in the Libraries of the House.

  Forestry
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he has instructed the director general of the Forestry 1324
  Commission to create a next steps agency of the Forestry Authority; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what plans he has to create a next steps agency of the Forestry Authority; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 25 October 1994]: I shall write to hon. Member as soon as possible and place a copy of the signed letter in the Libraries of the House.

  Kidney Patients
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many patients were admitted to hospital with kidney stones in each year of the last five years.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 27 October 1994]: Numbers of in-patient and day case admissions to hospital where the principle diagnosis was calculus of kidney and ureter (ICD9 592) for calendar years 1989–1993 are shown in the table.

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  2,510

  2,650

  3,286

  3,722

  3,646

  Land Ownership and Use
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total amount of land owned by the Scottish Office, in hectares; and how much of this land is held for productive agricultural reasons.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 28 October 1994]: I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible and place a copy of the signed letter in the Libraries of House.

WALES

  M4
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what action he proposes to remedy the lengthwise defect in the newly surfaced inside lane of the eastbound carriageway of the M4 on the approach to Junction 47.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Yesterday I had the opportunity of passing along the M4 motorway at junction 47. Having spoken to my officials I can assure the hon. Gentleman that there is no lengthwise defect in the newly surfaced inside land of the eastbound carriageway. The present thin layer of material was laid on what was already a sound foundation and has been examined and checked by road engineers.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the amount of accumulated capital receipts for each local authority in Wales.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The latest available information is given in the following table.

  Usable cash backed accumulated capital receipts at 31 March 1994 (a)

  £ 000

  Alyn and Deeside

  967

  Colwyn

  924

  Delyn

  —

  1325

  Usable cash backed accumulated capital receipts at 31 March 1994 (a)

  £ 000

  Glyndwr

  283

  Rhuddlan

  334

  Wrexham Maelor

  981

  Carmarthen

  1,857

  Ceredigion

  2,069

  Dinefwr

  370

  Llanelli

  1,056

  Preseli Pembrokeshire

  2,,725

  South Pembrokeshire

  1,641

  Blaenau Gwent

  2,876

  Islwyn

  359

  Monmouth

  4,905

  Newport

  8,125

  Torfaen

  3,271

  Aberconwy

  1,793

  Arfon

  207

  Dwyfor

  314

  Meirionnydd

  —

  Ynys Mon

  60

  Cynon Valley

  —

  Merthyr Tydfil

  1,072

  Ogwr

  3,326

  Rhondda

  1,570

  Rhymney Valley

  1,107

  Taff Ely

  3,003

  Brecknock

  1,769

  Montgomeryshire

  1,574

  Radonrshire

  450

  Cardiff

  20,383

  Vale of Glamorgan

  5,716

  Lliw Valley

  2,211

  Neath

  481

  Port Talbot

  550

  Swansea

  268

  Clwyd

  2,216

  Dyfed

  1,318

  Gwent

  7,205

  Gwynedd

  2,615

  Mid Glamorgan

  3,915

  Powys

  431

  South Glamorgan

  2,563

  West Glamorgan

  1,971

  Total Districts

  78,597

  Total Counties

  22,234

  Total Wales

  100,831

  Housing
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many new homes were completed by local authorities in Wales in 1978–79 and 1993–94; and how many he expects will be completed in 1994–95 and 1995–96.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Information on the number of local authority dwellings built, for calendar years since 1975 and quarterly since 1989, has been published in table 2.3 of "Welsh Housing Statistics No 14 1994", a copy of which is in the Library of the House. Forecasts of completions in 1994–95 and 1995–96 are not available.

  Sheep Premium
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 26 October,Official Report, column 661, how many farmers in Wales have not yet received payment of their advance payments with respect to the 1994 sheep annual premium scheme other than those whose claims involve queries or quota problems.
  1326
  Mr. Redwood
  All claims, other than those on which there are queries, or quota problems, have now been passed for payment.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many public appointments his predecessor was(a) responsible for making in 1979 or which (b) required his approval; and if he will divide these figures into (i) appointments to executive bodies, (ii) appointments to advisory bodies and (iii) other appointments;

  (2) if he will list the bodies to which he or his predecessor was responsible for appointing or where appointment required his or his predecessor's approval in (a) 1979 and (b) today; and if he will list the total funding from the Welsh Office for these bodies in (a) cash prices and (b) current prices;

  (3) if he will list the bodies that his Department funded (a) in 1979 and (b) today; and if he will list the total funding from the Welsh Office for these bodies in (a) cash prices and (b) current prices.

  Mr. Redwood
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my reply in the Library of the House.

  Departmental Running Costs
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total running costs each of his Department in(a) 1979 and (b) today in cash and current prices.

  Mr. Redwood
  The available information is as follows:

  Welsh Office running costs

  Cash terms £ million

  1994–95 prices £ million

  1979–80

  17·8

  45·0

  1994–95

  68·3

  68·3

  The increase in running costs reflects the assumption of additional functions by the Welsh Office, for example, further responsibilities for industry, higher education and training and agricultural grants. In addition, the figures for 1994–95 reflect superannuation charges, which were not included in the data for 1979–80.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a list showing the total number of employees in his Department broken down by grade for(a) 1979 and (b) today; and what is the corresponding pay bill in each case in cash prices and current prices.

  Mr. Redwood
  The total number of permanent staff employed by my Department in December 1979, broken down by grade is:

  Grade

  Total Number Employed

  Grade 1

  1

  Grade 2

  2

  Grade 3 and Equivalents

  13

  Grade 4 and Equivalents

  3

  Grade 5 and Equivalents

  55

  Grade 6 and Equivalents

  98

  Grade 7 and Equivalents

  159

  SEO and Equivalents

  150

  HEO and Equivalents

  219

  EO and Equivalents

  412

  AO and Equivalents

  643

  1327

  Grade

  Total Number Employed

  AA and Equivalents

  537

  Industrial Staff

  227

  Fast Streamers

  11

  The corresponding pay bill in this year was £14,900,000. This equates to £37,000,000 in current prices.

  The total number of permanent staff employed by my Department on 1 November 1994, broken down by grade is:

  Grade

  Total number employed

  Grade 1

  1

  Grade 2

  2

  Grade 3 and Equivalents

  12

  Grade 4 and Equivalents

  7

  Grade 5 and Equivalents

  49

  Grade 6 and Equivalents

  33

  Grade 7 and Equivalents

  178

  SEO and Equivalents

  145

  HEO and Equivalents

  300

  EO and Equivalents

  505

  AO and Equivalents

  603

  AA and Equivalents

  450

  Industrial Staff

  142

  Fast Streamers

  21

  The corresponding paybill for this year is £47,805,000.

  The staffing and paybill figures for 1979 include details for ancient monuments and schools inspection. The figures for 1994 include Cadw but not the Office of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector. The 1994 paybill figures include superannuation charges.

  The Welsh Office employs 54 fewer staff of grades one to seven and SEO than in 1979, and 84 fewer of all grades. During this period it has also taken on extra functions.

  Investment Projects
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will list those public investment projects within his Department's responsibility which have attracted private capital and which have been commenced since November 1993;

  (2) how much private capital has been invested in public investment projects within his Department's responsibility since the 1992 autumn statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Private finance forms a significant part of many programmes. The Welsh Office and its sponsored bodies levered in £400,000,000 of private funding in 1993–94 and this is forecast to increase to £407,000,000 in 1994–95. It is not practicable to list individual projects.

  Health Service Staff (Suspension)
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many(a) doctors, (b) nurses and (c) consultants (i) are currently suspended on pay from their duties for disciplinary reasons, (ii) were suspended on pay in each of the last five years from their duties for disciplinary reasons and (iii) were suspended before their case was
  1328
  heard for (A) less than three months,(B) between three and six months,(C) between six and 12 months and (D)over 12 months; and what is and was the cost of (i)and (ii)including temporary or locum replacement.

  Mr. Richards
  This information is not held centrally.

  Spencer Stuart Consultants
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many contracts his Department or Government agencies responsible to his Department have entered into with Spencer Stuart consultants in the last two years.

  Mr. Redwood
  The Welsh Office has not entered into any contracts with Spencer Stuart consultants in the last two financial years. Information for Government agencies responsible to the Welsh Office is not held
  centrally.

  Cardiff Royal Infirmary
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 17 October,Official Report, column 80, what assessment the director of the Welsh Office health department made of the report on the implementation of fire prevention works at Cardiff Royal infirmary in the course of discussions with South Glamorgan health authority.

  Mr. Redwood
  The report confirmed the health authority's previous assessment of the fire and clinical risks at Cardiff Royal infirmary, which had been shared with the director of the health department. These risks have driven the work to find alternative arrangements and for this reason I was keen that the public should see the full report. My decision announced on 20 October to agree in principle the authority's strategic plan clears the way to tackle the risks.

  Market Testing
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his current calculation of the costs of preparation for market testing in his Department in terms of(a) payments to consultants and (b) other costs.

  Mr. Redwood
  The costs of supporting my Department's programme of market testing in the period 1 April 1992 to 30 June 1994 are as follows:(a) consultancy support £246,000 and (b) other costs £691,000.

  On average market testing to date results in savings of one fifth in the costs being tested.

  Morriston Hospital
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects to make an announcement in relation to the contract for operating the Morriston hospital cardiac surgery unit.

  Mr. Redwood
  I hope to make a decision early next year.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list each occasion on which he or his Department met each of the bidders for the contract tendered for the Morriston hospital cardiac surgery unit; how many of the meetings took place(a) before and (b) after the submission of the tender; and in each case whether the initiative for the meeting took place at (i) his or (ii) the bidders' request.
  1329
  Mr. Redwood
  I have not met any of the bidders since the competitive tendering process began. I will write to the hon. Member.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on what date the completed tenders were first received from each of the bidders for the Morriston hospital cardiac surgery unit; and on what date he received any completed re-tendering exercises from any of the bidders.

  Mr. Redwood
  The tenders were received by the project board's deadline of 15 June, 1994. There has been no re-tendering.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement in relation to the tendering procedure for the Morriston hospital cardiac surgery unit; and if he will give details of rules and regulations pertaining to variations to the terms of the contract under the tender procedure, to the prohibitions and exclusions relating to re-tendering(a) prior to and (b) after the closing date specified, and contacts between bidders and his Department in relation to re-tendering procedures.

  Mr. Redwood
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my reply in the Library of the House.

  Police Authorities
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will make a statement on the reasons for not publishing standard spending assessments for police authorities in Wales;

  (2) if he will now publish the standard spending assessments for police forces in Wales (a) for 1994–95 and (b) for each of the previous 10 years.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to him on 4 July at column 91.

  Tuberculosis
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to the answer by the Secretary of State for Health of 17 October,Official Report, column 131, what consultations he has had with South Glamorgan health authority concerning the provision of accommodation for the national TB reference laboratory; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  I have had no formal consultations with South Glamorgan health authority on accommodation for this unit. Management of the unit is a matter for the Public Health Laboratory Service board.

  Between 1988 and 1992 officials at the Welsh Office convened discussions between South Glamorgan health authority, the PHLS and the University of Wales college of medicine about the implementation of the recommendations of the Evans report into microbiology services, including the TB reference laboratory, in south Glamorgan.

  Dentists
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many community dentists were employed in each family health service authority area of Wales in the last year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Redwood
  Information relating to staff in post in the community dental service is given in the following table.1330

  Family health service authority areas

  Staff in post as at 30 September 19931

  Clwyd

  10.4

  Dyfed

  12.6

  Gwent

  14.1

  Gwynedd

  8.3

  Mid Glamorgan

  9.3

  Powys

  5.0

  South Glamorgan

  15.5

  West Glamorgan

  11.8

  1 Whole—time equivalents. Excluding locum staff. Includes staff in NHS trusts within the FHSA areas.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his most up—to—date estimate of the number of community dentists who will be employed in Wales in(a) 1996, (b) 1998 and (c) 2000; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  It is a matter for health authorities to decide how many community dentists to employ in light of local circumstances. The Green Paper"Improving NHS Dentistry" restates the Government's commitment to the NHS and its intention to strengthen the safety net function of the community dental service.

  National Botanic Garden
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 17 October,Official Report, column 79, what consultants were commissioned by his Department to consider the feasibility of establishing a national botanic garden for Wales; by what method the consultants were chosen; and if he will give the approximate capital cost within which they have been asked to work.

  Mr. Redwood
  The consultants commissioned by my Department to consider the feasibility of a national botanic garden for Wales are ERES, Castle buildings, Womanby street, Cardiff CF1 2RG. They were chosen following a competitive tendering procedure. No approximation of the capital costs of the project were given to the consultants.

  Ethnic Health Projects
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to the answer given by the Secretary of State for Health of 17 October,Official Report, column 135, what proposals he has to extend funding in Wales for experimental projects comparable to those being offered by the NHS ethnic health unit in England.

  Mr. Redwood
  I have no proposals at present.

  Departmental Property
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what properties are owned or leased by his Department for the use of Ministers; what was the total running cost for each property for the latest year available broken down into(a) furniture and fittings, (b) maintenance, (c) staffing, including the number of butlers, cooks and housekeepers, (d) food and hospitality and (e) other costs; what is the estimated value of each property; and how many times in the latest year the property was stayed in overnight by a Minister.

  Mr. Redwood
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my reply in the Library of the House.

  Countryside Council
  Sir Wyn Roberts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) whether he will review the functions of the Countryside Council for Wales with a view to those functions being transferred to local and national Government;

  (2) what plans he has to reduce overhead costs of the Countryside Council for Wales.

  Mr. Redwood
  A recently conducted review of the work of the Council has indicated that there could be scope for elected bodies to play an increased role in the

  Welsh Office expenditure 1979–80 to 1994–95 (£ million)

  NDPBs1

  TECs2

  NHS

  Cash

  1994–95 price1

  Cash

  1994–95 prices3

  Cash

  1994–95 prices3

  1979–80

  N/A

  N/A

  —

  —

  465·5

  1,179·1

  1980–81

  N/A

  N/A

  —

  —

  598·6

  1,281·5

  1981–82

  100·0

  195·2

  —

  —

  682·1

  1,331·5

  1982–83

  86·0

  156·7

  —

  —

  750·2

  1,367·0

  1983–84

  74·0

  128·9

  —

  —

  796·2

  1,386·5

  1984–85

  78·0

  129·3

  —

  —

  861·0

  1,427·7

  1985–86

  74·0

  116·3

  —

  —

  919·5

  1,444·5

  1986–87

  70·0

  106·8

  —

  —

  988·2

  1,508·3

  1987–88

  100·0

  144·9

  —

  —

  1,097·5

  1,590·4

  1988–89

  130·0

  176·5

  —

  —

  1,220·5

  1,657·3

  1989–90

  250·0

  317·4

  —

  —

  1,324·4

  1,681·5

  1990–91

  320·0

  376·0

  —

  —

  1,490·6

  1,751·3

  1991–92

  370·0

  408·9

  —

  —

  1,710·1

  1,890·1

  1992–93

  400·0

  425·4

  103·6

  110·2

  1,912·9

  2,034·1

  1993–94

  678·04

  698·34

  98·9

  101·9

  1,986·6

  2,046·2

  Sources:

  1"Public Bodies"; first published in 1982 and successive years by the Cabinet Office.

  2Responsibility for TECs in Wales transferred on 1 April 1992 from the Department of Employment to the Welsh Office.

  3Figures derived using latest GDP deflators.

  4Provisional figures only until publication of 1994 "Public Bodies".

  General Practitioner Lists
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people in the mid Glamorgan family health services authority area have been removed from the GP's list and how many have been(a) under 18 years, (b) women over 60 years, (c) men over 65 years of age, (d) registered disabled people, (e) in receipt of repeat prescriptions and (f) recorded as having been previously removed from a GP's list in each of the last four years.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 1 November 1994]This information is not available in the form requested.

  I understand that some 50,858 patients were removed from GP's lists in mid Glamorgan during 1993, according to data held by the mid Glamorgan family health services authority. A further 33,904 patients were removed between 1 January and 31 August 1994.

  The most common reasons for the removal of 99 per cent. of these patients were moving home, emigration, adoption, death and the retirement of the GP.

  In 1993 only 0.8 per cent. or 407 patients were deregistered at the request of the GP. They all had the opportunity to register with another GP. We do not keep records by age in the Welsh Office.

  Dental Services
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the adequacy of NHS dental provision in Newtown, Llanidloes,
  1332
  delivery of certain of its present functions. My Department will now be discussing these proposals, and the general issue of running costs, with the council.

  Quangos
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the total expenditure on quangos, training and enterprise councils and the national health service in Wales by his Department for each year since 1979, in cash and 1994–95 prices.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 27 October 1994]The information requested is shown in the following table:

  Machynlleth and Dolgellau; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 1 November 1994]; It is for health authorities to assess the adequacy of NHS dental services in their locality.

  Family health services authorities are encouraged to seek my permission to employ salaried dentists in areas where there is a shortfall in service provision. Gwynedd and Powys family health services authorities have applied for permission to employ salaried dentists in their areas. As a result, the Gwynedd family health services authority has permission to employ four salaried dentists, to be deployed at such centres as that authority judges best to ensure the availability of general dental services, and the Powys authority has permission to employ a salaried dentist at Builth Wells.

  Powys family health services authority has since made further applications to employ salaried dentists at Machynlleth and Newtown. With the agreement of the authority, the Machynlleth application is being held in abeyance pending the result of a Welsh Office sponsored advertising campaign to attract further independent practitioners to the area. The application in respect of Newtown is presently under consideration. Newtown has recently been declared a designated area under the dental location incentive scheme. My Department will provide the funding for those who qualify for the grants which are now available for dentists wishing to set up or expand practices in the Newtown area.
  1333
  On 20 October my Department provided additional funding of £50,000 to the Gwynedd health authority to purchase additional treatment sessions to support the community dental service safety net role.

  European Regional Funds
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give details of European Union expenditure in Wales on an(a) gross and (b) net basis; and if he will place a copy in the Library of such recent documentation on the above calculation as he has available.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 20 October 1994]Expenditure figures in Wales are available from the structural funds on a gross basis only. Information on other areas of European Union expenditure is not available for Wales. Neither is it possible to present this information on a net basis.

  I will place in the Library of the House a copy of the information available.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Security Officers
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of(a) registered and (b) non-registered security officers currently operating in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  There is no central system of registration for' security officers.

  Merseyside Police
  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what projections he has made of the future budget needs of Merseyside police.

  Mr. Maclean
  The budget requirement for the Merseyside police is a matter for the Merseyside police authority.

  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he next plans to meet representatives of Merseyside police authority to discuss their funding requirements for 1995–96.

  Mr. Maclean
  A letter setting out the basis of the revised new police funding formula will be going to the Merseyside police authority shortly. Detailed proposals for central Government support for the Merseyside police in 1995–96 will be available shortly after the Budget on 29 November.

  Neighbourhood Security Patrols
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions he has had about the possibility of vetting and regulating firms offering neighbourhood security patrols.

  Mr. Maclean
  Home Office Ministers and officials have frequent contacts with the police and the private security industry in which the question of regulation can arise. Last year we published a Green Paper on the arrangements for criminal record checks on people seeking employment in sensitive areas. We intend to publish a white paper setting out the results of our review in the new year.

  Firearms
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were 1993's figures for crimes of violence where firearms were used.

  Mr. Howard
  In 1993, 8,777 notifiable offences of violence were recorded by the police in England and Wales in which firearms were reported to have been used.

  Seventy four involved offences of homicide, 1,047 attempted murder and other acts, including wounding, endangering life, 1,738 other offences of violence against the person and 5,918 of robbery.

  Immigration
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what importance he attaches to retaining the system of intergovernmental co-operation on European immigration issues.

  Mr. Howard
  The Government attach the utmost importance to the continuation of the present intergovernmental arrangements under title VI of the treaty on European Union.

  Wheel Clamping
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he now expects to announce the Government's response to his Department's consultation on wheel clamping.

  Mr. Maclean
  As soon as possible.

  Closed Circuit Television
  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will provide finance to local authorities to facilitate the implementation of the CCTV system in town centre locations.

  Mr. Howard
  Last month I announced a new challenge competition to set up more CCTV systems in England and Wales with £l2 million Government funding in 1994–95. Local authorities will be able to bid for funds in partnership with the police and other organisations, including the private sector.

  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list areas in which crime has fallen as a result of the installation of closed circuit television systems.

  Mr. Maclean
  Towns and cities all over the country report decreases in crime due to the presence of the cameras and the availability of video evidence to help convict criminals. Examples include Kings Lynn, Newcastle and Bradford, to name but a few.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on Government plans to incorporate the draft directive on article 8 of the European convention on human rights in reporting the use of closed circuit television systems into United Kingdom law.

  Mr. Maclean
  We have no plans to proceed in this way.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the guidelines that are available for the use of closed circuit television cameras in public areas.
  1335
  Mr. Maclean
  We shall shortly be issuing a good practice guide on the use of closed circuit television in public places. Copies will be sent to all police forces, local authorities and large businesses.

  Police Authorities
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to ensure that best practice spreads between police authorities.

  Mr. Howard
  The Police and Magistrates' Courts Act 1994 codifies best practice and sets out clearly what is expected of police authorities.

  Under the provisions of the Act, I laid a code of practice yesterday which should promote good practice on financial management.

  Special Constables
  Mr. Colin Shepherd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the assistance provided by special constables in routine police patrolling.

  Mr. Howard
  No specific assessment has been made. Her Majesty's inspectors of constabulary are told that specials spend a large part of their time on duty supporting regular police officers on patrol, and that this support is of real value to regular officers and the local community.

  The Government recognise the importance of police foot patrol to members of the public, even in low crime areas. I recently announced the launch of a new type of special constables—the neighbourhood constable—who will patrol, on foot, their own neighbourhood.

  Overseas Domestic Workers
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action his Department is planning to strengthen measures to protect overseas domestic workers from abusive employers during their stay in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  We are keeping the arrangements for the admission of domestic workers to the United Kingdom under review in consultation with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Employment Department.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of state for the Home Department what public funding is available to voluntary organisations for help to overseas domestic workers seeking advice or help in cases of gross exploitation.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  Information about funding specifically for this purpose is not available.

  DNA Sampling
  Mr. Batiste
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received regarding the use of DNA sampling to fight crime; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Howard
  Almost all the correspondence we have received has been supportive of our proposals to allow DNA samples to be taken in all recordable offences. The police have warmly welcomed our plans. They help bring the law into line with the capabilities of modern technology. The full force of modern science will be brought to bear upon the modern criminal.
  1336
  Mr. Congdon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his response to the recommendations of the Royal Commission on criminal justice regarding DNA sampling.

  Mr. Maclean
  Our proposals for legislation arising from the Royal Commission's recommendations on DNA are contained in the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994.

  Drugs (Sentencing)
  Mr. Gallie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to set minimum jail sentences for those who sell category A drugs; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  None. The courts should be left to determine appropriate sentences in individual cases.

  The maximum penalty for supplying category A drugs is life imprisonment. We look to the courts to pass very long prison sentences in the most serious cases.

  European Court of Justice
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list issues affecting his Department that are due to come before the European Court of Justice for adjudication; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  A number, including the exclusion orders against Mr. Adams and Mr. Gallagher and interpretation of article 7a of the treaty of Rome.

  Electoral Registration
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the applicability of citizens charter principles to electoral registration; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  Electoral registration officers have a statutory duty to include in the electoral register the names of all people who appear to them to be eligible. If the rights of electors have been denied, remedies are available through the courts. My right hon. and learned Friend therefore has no plans to introduce a charter covering electoral registration.

  Crime Statistics
  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the latest figures on recorded crime in Hertfordshire.

  Mr. Maclean
  In the 12 months to June 1994, 54,268 offences were recorded by the police in Hertfordshire. This represents a decrease of eight per cent. on the corresponding period for the previous year.

  Mr. Ottaway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has formed of current trends in the figures for recorded crime.

  Mr. Maclean
  The most recent figures, for the 12 months to June 1994, show that the number of crimes recorded by the police in England and Wales decreased by 5·5 per cent. compared with the previous 12 months. This is the largest fall over 12 months for 40 years. I very much hope that, following on as it does from the one per cent. fall for the whole of 1993, this will serve to reassure the public that recent rises in recorded crime can not only be slowed but actually reversed.

  Prison Places, North-west
  Mr. Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to increase the number of prison places in the north-west.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Over the next five years more than 2,200 additional places will be provided.

  Violent Crime
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of trends in violent crime.

  Mr. Howard
  Between 1981 and 1993, violent crime recorded by the police increased at a rate of 6 per cent. per year, compared with an increase in all recorded crime of 5 per cent. per year. In the 12 months to June 1994, violent crime accounted for 6 per cent. of all crimes recorded by the police.

  The British crime survey provides an insight into people's experience of crime, whether or not they report it to the police. The survey suggests that for those offences that can be compared with the police figures, violent crime increased at a rate of less than 3 per cent. per year between 1981 and 1993.

  Ministerial Visits
  Mr. Brandreth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to visit the Cheshire probation service to discuss crime prevention; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  My right hon. and learned Friend has no immediate plans to visit the Cheshire probation service.

  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he next intends to visit police cells in Greater Manchester to discuss the number of remand and convicted prisoners being held therein.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  There are no plans to do so.

  Home Leave (Prisoners)
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his policy on home leave for prisoners.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  A comprehensive review of the existing arrangements for home leave and temporary release has recently been completed. As a result of this work, new arrangements, which place greater emphasis on the safety of the public, will be announced shortly.

  In the meantime, instructions are being issued to governors that all temporary absence from prison will be subject to a tighter and more rigorous risk assessment. The police and probation service will be consulted about the release of prisoners, particularly those convicted of serious violent offences.

  Prisoners who are released temporarily will be subject to spot checks, and those who breach the terms of their licence will be dealt with according to the prison disciplinary system. These changes will be implemented in full by no later than 1 December 1994.

  Cannabis
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many adult cautions were issued 1338
  by the Metropolitan police for the possession of cannabis for personal use.

  Mr. Maclean
  I understand that the latest provisional figures for 1993 record that 8,050 persons received adult cautions for possession of cannabis within the Metropolitan police district.

  Squatting
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what impact he expects the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 to have on the practice of squatting; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  My right hon. and learned Friend is confident that the Bill will provide much greater protection to property owners who wish to remove squatters from their property. Through the provision of a quick and effective remedy for aggrieved property owners, squatters will no longer be able to delay the eviction procedure while remaining in possession of the property.

  Crime
  Mr. Mans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to encourage people to help the police tackle crime.

  Mr. Maclean
  On 28 September, my right hon. and learned Friend launched the partners against crime initiative, encouraging individuals actively to help the police. This initiative has three main strands—lneighbourhood watch, street watch and neighbourhood constables, and is linked into the expansion of the special constabulary.

  Neighbourhood Watch, London
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about progress of neighbourhood watch in London.

  Mr. Maclean
  I am pleased to report the success of neighbourhood watch in London. There are over 10,887 schemes covering more than 1 million households. I understand that in my hon. Friend's own constituency 50 per cent. of all households are members of neighbourhood watch.

  Rapists
  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what facilities are available in Her Majesty's prisons for the counselling and rehabilitation of convicted rapists; how widespread are these facilities; and if their use is compulsory.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. David Faber, dated 3 November 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the counselling and rehabilitation of convicted rapists. Since 1992, the Prison Service in England and Wales has been running substantial treatment programmes for sex offenders, both rapists and child molesters, in 17 adult prisons and one young

  1339
  offender institution. Four more establishments will shortly join the programme.
  During the year ending 31 March 1994, the Prison Service assessed the treatment needs of 904 sex offenders and treated 439 inmates on this programme.
  Originally inmates serving sentences of four years or more for a sex offence were targeted and we are now able to offer the programme to all adult male offenders in this category. We are expanding the programme to any prisoner who wishes to have treatment and has sufficient sentence length to complete the programme, including suitable young offenders.
  The programme is not compulsory because an inmate must be motivated to change his behaviour for the programme to be effective. However, since successful completion of the programme is regarded as an essential part of preparation for release, a prisoner's participation and performance during the programme will be considered when parole decisions are made.

  Private Security Firms
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what checks his Department makes in respect of(a) criminal records and (b) training of employees of firms contracted by his Department to carry out private security work.

  Mr. Maclean
  The checks made in respect of criminal records of employees of private security firms contracted to undertake security work on behalf of the Home Office vary according to the requirements of the contract, or the sensitivity of the work. Units will make checks in appropriate cases. Any particular training requirements will be specified in the invitation to tender and checked before award of contract.

  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 28 October,Official Report, column 874, what plans he has to introduce regulations to prevent a person with a criminal record from offering security services.

  Mr. Maclean
  There are no present plans to introduce such regulations, but we keep the case for intervention under review.

  Mr Kani Yilmaz
  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many previous occasions Mr. Kani Yilmaz has visited the United Kingdom; and what action was then taken by his Department.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  Mr. Yilmaz previously entered the United Kingdom on 23 June 1993, 2 October 1993, 4 December 1993 and 12 April 1994. On each occasion he was admitted as a visitor.

  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he first became aware of the intention of Mr. Kani Yilmaz to enter the United Kingdom on his most recent visit.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  On 24 October after his arrival the previous day.

  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what contacts his Department had with Mr. Kani Yilmaz on his previous visits to the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  I am not aware of any such contacts other than with officers of the Immigration Service on arrivals and departures from the United Kingdom.
  1340
  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when Mr. Kani Yilmaz entered the United Kingdom; and what action was then taken by immigration officers.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  Mr. Kani Yilmaz last entered the United Kingdom on 23 October 1994. An immigration officer gave him leave to enter for three months.

  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if Mr. Kani Yilmaz has ever entered the United Kingdom unlawfully, or been in breach of immigration rules by overstaying or for any other reason; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  According to our records Mr. Yilmaz has never previously entered or remained in the United Kingdom in breach of the immigration rules.

  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he first became aware of the arrival of Mr. Kani Yilmaz in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  I first became aware of Mr. Kani Yilmaz's arrival in the United Kingdom on 24 October.

  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he decided to issue a notice of intention to deport Mr. Kani Yilmaz; and when it was served.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  My right hon. and learned Friend directed on 25 October 1994 that Mr. Faysal Dunlayici, also known as Kani Yilmaz, should be served with a notice of intention to deport and detained. The notice was served on Mr. Dunlayici on 26 October.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers are currently detained under Immigration Acts powers in Her Majesty's prison Doncaster; and how long on average these detainees are being held under these powers.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  None.

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many asylum seekers released from detention on bail by the Immigration Appellate Authority have subsequently absconded or otherwise failed to comply with the terms of such bail(a) in the last five years and (b) since 26 July 1993;

  (2) how many asylum seekers detained under Immigration Act powers have been released on bail by the Immigration Appellate Authority (a) in the past five years and (b) since 26 July 1993.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  Information on the number of asylum seekers released from detention on bail by the Immigration Appellate Authority could be obtained only at disproportionate costs. Information on those released on bail that subsequently abscond is not separately identifiable in the statistics.

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many asylum seekers have been detained under the provisions of section 7 of the Asylum and Immigration Appeals Act 1993 since 26 July 1993;

  (2) how many asylum seekers are currently detained under the provisions of section 7 of the Asylum and Immigration Appeals Act 1993.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  Section 7 of the Asylum and Immigration Appeals Act 1993 refers to the curtailment
  1341
  of leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom after an asylum applicant has had their claim for asylum refused. It has no provision for the detention of asylum seekers. However, there have been no cases detained since 26 July 1993 who were awaiting removal or an appeal because their leave to remain had been curtailed.

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department approximately what proportion of those applying for asylum in the United Kingdom in 1993 arrived(a) without travel documents and (b) in possession of fraudulent travel documents.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  The available information relates to asylum applications lodged at the United Kingdom ports of Heathrow, Gatwick and Dover. In 1993, of the 6,725 applications for asylum, excluding dependants, lodged at these ports, an estimated 40 per cent. were without travel documents and 20 per cent. were in possession of fraudulent travel documents.

  Young offender deaths 1990–1994

  Suicide

  Misadventure

  Accidental

  Open

  Other

  Total

  1990

  5 (2)

  —

  —

  5

  —

  10

  1991

  4

  —

  1

  —

  —

  5

  1992

  4

  1

  —

  2

  11

  8

  1993

  1

  —

  —

  2

  —

  3

  19942

  1

  1

  —

  1

  —

  l0

  The figure in brackets refers to verdicts where a 'lack of care' rider has been used as a qualification. It does not relate to the concept of civil negligence nor does it indicate a breach of duty by anyone.

  1 Cell mate charged with murder.

  2 1994 figures are up to November 1. Verdicts are awaited in 7 cases for 1994.

  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of deaths in custody in the last five years which have resulted in disciplinary proceedings being brought against custodial officers.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Dr. Lynne Jones, dated 3 November 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent question about the number of deaths in custody in the last five years which have resulted in disciplinary proceedings.
  I will write to you as soon as possible.

  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out the rules in relation to the publication of reports into the circumstances surrounding a death in custody; and what plans he has to change them.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Dr. Lynne Jones, dated 3 November 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent question about the rules in relation to the publication of reports into the circumstances surrounding a death in custody; and the plans he has to change them.
  Subject to considerations of security and to the Coroner's consent, the Prison Service is generally prepared to disclose, in advance of any inquest, copies of documents which are provided to the Coroner

  Deaths in Custody
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the total number of deaths in custody for young offenders and the coroners' verdicts returned for the last five years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Dr. Lynne Jones, dated 3 November, 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question if he will list the total number of deaths in custody for young offenders and the coroners' verdicts returned for the last five years for which figures are available.
  The attached table records the information requested for the year 1990 to November 1st 1994.

  for the purpose of the inquest to anyone who is a "Properly interested person" under the Coroners' Rules.
  However reports of follow-up internal investigations, including statements taken by the investigating Governor, are not disclosed. It is necessary that the Prison Service should be able to conduct its own review of the case in confidence. The Coroner is at liberty to take statements separately for the purpose of the inquest and any requests for disclosure of such statements would be for him or her to consider. There are no plans to change this policy.
  A similar policy applies in relation to deaths of persons in the custody of the Prison Service detained under the Immigration Act.

  Security Service
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what steps are being taken to recruit more women from outside the service into senior positions within the Security Service;

  (2) what positive steps are being taken to promote women within the ranks of the Security Service;

  Mr. Howard
  The Security Service operates an equal opportunities policy. Recruitment and promotion are based on merit not gender.

  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list the grades of post in order of seniority within the structure of the Security Service;

  (2) how many personnel are currently employed by the Security Service; and how many are women;

  (3) how many women are employed in each grade of post within the Security Service as a percentage of the total number of staff in that grade.

  Mr. Howard
  The Security Service employs about 2,000 people of whom just over 53 per cent. are women. The senior management group which is responsible for
  1343
  the overall direction of the service's work, and the general intelligence duties group, who are responsible for the service's investigative, assessment and policy work as well as operational tasks, together comprise 367 staff of whom 144–39 per cent.—are women. For operational reason I am not prepared to give a breakdown of the remaining occupational groups.

  Secure Training Centres
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the organisations who have expressed an interest in running one or more secure training centres.

  Mr. Maclean
  A total of 25 organisations have expressed an interest in tendering for the financing, designing, building/refurbishing, operating and maintaining of five secure training centres. The names of the organisations invited to tender will be announced when the invitations to tender are issued.

  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidelines will be put in place on the prevention of suicides and self-harm at the new secure training centres.

  Mr. Maclean
  Each secure training centre will be required to develop and maintain a suicide and self-harm management and assessment policy which will ensure that each trainee is assessed for the risk of suicide and/or self-harm on arrival at the centre and is re-assessed on a regular basis. The requirement to design the regime and the buildings to minimise these risks will be a prominent feature of the invitation to tender, and will be given close attention in assessing bids.

  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the projected average level of occupancy for the secure training centres.

  Mr. Maclean
  Each secure training centre will provide 40 places. The actual level of occupancy will be determined by the courts and their use of the secure training order.

  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to announce the names of the private sector contractors who will be running the secure training centres.

  Mr. Maclean
  An announcement will be made once the competitive tendering exercise has been completed.

  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the national curriculum will be taught in the new secure training centres.

  Mr. Maclean
  Secure training centres will provide a broad and balanced curriculum appropriate to the age, aptitude and ability and special educational needs of the individual trainee. It will reflect the national curriculum as far as possible.

  Remand (Juveniles)
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his oral answer of 14 May,Official Report 1992, columns 737–38, if he is now in a position to state when he intends to end the practice of remanding juveniles to adult prisons.

  Mr. Maclean
  It is the Government's policy to end remands of juveniles to prisons as soon as possible. To this end, local authorities have begun building 1344
  programmes to increase the stock of secure accommodation specifically for this purpose.

  Citizenship Applications
  Sir Michael Neubert
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will investigate the use of an honorific title by Mr. Ali Fayed in regard to his application for British citizenship.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  No.

  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for British citizenship have been outstanding for more than 21 months.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  There were 752 applications outstanding on 31 October 1994.

  Sir Michael Neubert
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to introduce a system of checks on the use of honorific titles by foreign nationals applying for British citizenship.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  No.

  Immigration Detention Centres
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total cost in the financial year to 31 March to the Immigration Service of administering its immigration detention centres.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  The costs met by the Immigration Service in the financial year 1993–94 were about £7.5 million.

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what was the average net operating cost per inmate per week in Harmondsworth immigration detention centre for the financial year to 31 March;

  (2) what was the average net operating cost per inmate per week in Campsfield house immigration detention centre for the financial year to 31 March.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  This information is not available in the form requested, but over the whole estate the average weekly cost per detainee is estimated at just over £800.

  Drug Abuse
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to encourage charity shops selling clothing to young people to display warnings about drug abuse; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  We are in favour of any initiative which effectively raises young people's awareness of the facts about drug misuse and the associated risks. The Government's consultative document on a drug strategy for 1995–98, published last month, contains new proposals to help young people to resist drugs, including publicity campaigns and support for schools in providing effective drugs education.

  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his policy towards slogans promoting the use of drugs appearing on clothing for young people; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Government are totally opposed to the encouragement or glamorisation of drug misuse. Section 19 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 makes it an offence for a person to incite another to
  1345
  commit an offence under this Act. The investigation and prosecuting of offences is entirely a matter for the police and the Crown Prosecution Service. The decision as to whether an offence has been committed is a matter for the courts.

  Re-convictions
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offenders were re-convicted within two years of release from(a) local authority secure accommodation and (b) young offender institutions for each of the past five years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Maclean
  The information requested on re-conviction rates for local authority secure accommodation is not centrally available.

  The latest available information on re-conviction rates of young offenders is contained in chapter 9 of "Prison Statistics, England and Wales, 1992", Cm. 2581, and

  Notifiable offences of theft and unauthorised taking of motor vehicles recorded by the police

  England and Wales

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  Offences recorded

  393,399

  494,209

  581,901

  587,856

  597,519

  Vehicles recovered

  267,094

  328,797

  372,412

  363,9561

  350,8621

  Percentage recovered

  68

  67

  64

  651

  591

  1Excluding Dyfed-Powys.

  Travellers
  Ms Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much money has been spent on tracking the movement and activities of travellers by specialist police units during 1991–92 and 1993–94; and what is the planned budget for 1995–96 to 1997–98.

  Mr. Maclean
  No Home Office records are maintained of specific operational costs incurred by police forces. The deployment of resources for police operations is a matter for individual chief officers of police.

  Remand Prisoners
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many remand prisoners are currently held in police station cells.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. Robert Ainsworth, dated 3 November 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent question
  about the number of remand prisoners currently held in police cells.
  On 31 October there were 132 remand prisoners held in police cells.

  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) juveniles and (b) young adults were held in (i) prison and (ii) young offenders' institutions or remand centres, (1) on remand and (2) after sentence for the last five years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Director General of the Prison Service will write to the hon. Member.
  1346
  relates to offenders discharged from prison during 1987. Relevant figures are contained in tables 9.7 and 9.9. Figures are not given for young offender institutions as they did not replace detention centres and youth custody until 1988.

  Stolen Vehicles
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what recovery rate has been achieved of stolen vehicles for each of the last five years for which figures are available;

  (2) what records are kept detailing recovery rates of vehicles reported stolen.

  Mr. Maclean
  Information on the number of vehicles recorded as stolen and subsequently recovered is available for 42 of the 43 police force areas in England and Wales, and is provided to the Home Office by those forces. The recovery rate for the last five years is given in the following table.

  Haslar Home Office Holding Centre
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average net operating cost per inmate per week in the Haslar Home Office holding centre for the financial year to 31 March.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Responsibility for these matters has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter for Derek Lewis to Mr. Robert Ainsworth, dated 3 November 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent question about the average net operating cost per inmate per week in the Haslar Home Office holding centre for the financial year to 31 March.
  In the financial year to 31 March 1994 the net operating cost per prisoner per week for Haslar holding centre was £300.

  Prison Service Costs
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average net operating cost per inmate per week in all Prison Service establishments for the financial year to 31 March.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. Robert Ainsworth, dated 3 November 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent question on the average cost per inmate per week.
  The average cost per prisoner place per week in 1993–94 was £437 (£22,712 per year). This figure excludes exceptional items: the cost of holding prisoners in police cells and compensation for abandonment of plans to relocate the Prison Service headquarters to Derby.

  Young Offender Institutions
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research he has commissioned which indicates that young offender institutions are more effective than secure units in the local authority community home system; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  In 1992, the Home Office published research and planning unit paper 66—"Juveniles Sentenced for Serious Offences: A comparison of Regimes in Young Offender Institutions and Local Authority Community Homes". The paper reported the results of a comparison of young offender institutions and local authority community homes, including the education and training provided, costs, reconviction and absconding rates.

  Police Posts
  Mr. George
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police posts have been privatised or individualised in the last five years in each of the following areas(a) England and Wales, (b) Scotland, (c) Northern Ireland, (d) the west midlands and (e) H division, Walsall.

  Mr. Maclean
  No police posts have been privatised in England and Wales, but as a consequence of contracting out of the court escort function there is to be a phased reduction of 271 officers in the Metropolitan police from October 1994 to March 1995.

  The position in Scotland and Northern Ireland is a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

  Prisons (Suicide Prevention)
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidelines exist in relation to the handling of prisoners at risk of harming themselves.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Dr. Lynne Jones, dated 3 November 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking what guidelines exist in relation to the handling of prisoners at risk of harming themselves.
  Instruction to Governors 1/1994 'Caring for the Suicidal in Custody' introduced new arrangements for the care of prisoners at risk of suicide and self-harm, which updated and expanded arrangements set out in the previous instructions issued in May 1989. The new guidelines came into force on the 1 April 1994.

  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which prisons currently implement official suicide prevention strategies.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
  1348
  Letter from Derek Lewis to Dr. Lynne Jones, dated 3 November 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question on which prisons currently implement official suicide prevention strategies.
  The Prison Services' revised suicide prevention strategy was laid out in Instruction to Governors 1/1994, which updated and expanded arrangements set out in a previous instruction issued in May 1989. The new instruction was issued in February of this year and came into force on 1 April 1994 in all establishments.

  Police (Representation)
  Sir Michael Neubert
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to alter the provisions for local representation on police consultative and community groups in London.

  Mr. Maclean
  Under section 106 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, it is for the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis to make arrangements for obtaining the views of people in the Metropolitan police district about matters concerning the policing of the area. We have issued guidance to the commissioner concerning arrangements for the Metropolitan police district emphasising that consultative groups should be as representative as possible of the local community. We have no present plans to revise that guidance.

  Departmental Property
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what properties are owned or leased by his Department for the use of Ministers; what was the total running cost for each property for the latest year available broken down into(a) furniture and fittings, (b) maintenance, (c) staffing, including the number of butlers, cooks and housekeepers, (d) food and hospitality and (e) other costs; what is the estimated value of each property; and how many times in the latest year the property was stayed in overnight by a Minister.

  Mr. Howard
  The Home Office leases one property used, for security reasons, as the London residence of the Home Secretary of the day. The value of the property is not known. There are no Home Office staff employed at the property and the Home Secretary is responsible for meeting all expenditure on food, private telephone calls and hospitality. Running costs in 1993–94 totalled £79,781 comprising:

  £

  (a)Furniture and fittings

  1,076

  (b)Maintenance

  140,385

  (c)Staff

  nil

  (d)Food and hospitality

  nil

  (e)Other costs

  38,320

  Note:

  1 of which 23,285 was for the replacement of the roof

  Miscarriages of Justice
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) by what dates he intends that the proposed body to investigate alleged miscarriages of justice shall be(a) established and (b) fully operational;

  (2) what is his best estimate of the running costs in a full year of the proposed body to investigate alleged miscarriages of justice.
  1349
  Mr. Maclean
  We are committed to establishing such a body as soon as is practicable. I am not yet in a position to say when the necessary legislation will be brought forward but information on the body's running costs will be made available, in the usual way, when the Bill is introduced.

  Visas
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the United Kingdom post in Islamabad asked for inquiries to be made in the United Kingdom into the application by Mrs. Abida Khatoon (Ref: IMM/C3052) to join her husband in the United kingdom; when he expects those inquiries to be completed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  EU Common Visa List
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what Representations he is making to remove New Zealand and Jamaica from the common visa list of the European Union; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  New Zealand and Jamaica are not among the countries proposed by the Commission for inclusion on the common visa list.

  Spencer Stuart Consultants
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many contracts his Department or Government agencies responsible to his Department have entered into with Spencer Stuart consultants in the last two years.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Home Office has not let any contracts to the named company during the specified period.

  Tiger Products
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his of 27 October,Official Report, column 769, what progress has been made in the investigations by the Metropolitan police arising from information passed to them by the World Wide Fund for Nature; and how many people have been charged with offences arising from the possession of tiger products in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Maclean
  I understand from the Commissioner of the Police of the Metropolis that the investigation is still in progress. Information on the number of people charged so is not collated centrally.

  Electoral Register
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will bring forward proposals to allow electors not to have their addresses printed on the Electoral Register for specified reasons.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  This question was considered by the working group on electoral registration, set up as part of our general review of electoral law and practice. Officials are due to report to Ministers on the findings of the review shortly.

  Police Finances
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has now abandoned his draft formula for setting police force finances; when he intends to present new proposals for setting police force finance in England and Wales; and what scheme he intends to use for the 1995–96 financial year.

  Mr. Maclean
  The setting of police force budgets is a matter for police authorities.

  A version of the new police funding formula was issued for consultation to police and local authority associations in September. This version of the formula did not take sufficient account of the need to provide stability and continuity in policing. We therefore concluded that, for 1995–96, police establishment should be included in the funding formula as an indicator of the need for policing. Police authorities will be notified of their allocations of central Government support in the same way as other classes of local authorities. Details of the proposed local government settlement for England and Wales for 1995–96 will be available very shortly after the Budget announcement.

  Workplace Fires
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were(a) killed and (b) injured in fires in places of work in (i) 1992–93 and (ii) 1993–94.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  Figures on fire deaths are provided on a calender year basis. In the United Kingdom in 1992 there were 50 deaths from fires in places of work and 2,087 non-fatal casualties.

  Secure Training Unit, Medomsley
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when his Department expects to respond to letters from Derwentside district council of 1 September, 15 September and 6 October regarding planning permission for the proposed secure training unit at Medomsley; and what are the reasons for the delay.

  Mr. Maclean
  I understand that the letters from Derwentside district council concern an application for planning permission made under section 299 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

  The letter of 1 September was an acknowledgement of the application and a response was not requested. The letters of 15 September and 6 October invited payment of a planning fee in connection with the application. Payments of this kind are not normally made until the enabling legislation has been enacted. I apologise for the delay in responding to the correspondence. My officials will shortly be writing to Derwentside district council about the application.

  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what guidance or regulation the Home Office made an application for planning permission to Derwentside district council for a secure unit on part of the former site of Medomsley prison; and for what reason his Department was unable to pay the statutory fee.

  Mr. Maclean
  Applications have been made for the development of a secure training centre on part of the site of the former detention centre at Medomsley under DOE circular 18/84 and also section 299 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.
  1351
  In respect of any planning fee due, payments of this kind are not normally made until the enabling legislation has been enacted.

  Market Testing
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his current calculation of the costs of preparation for market testing in his Department in terms of(a) payments to consultants and (b) other costs.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  From 1 April 1992 to 30 June 1994 expenditure by the Home Office including the Prison Service in support of the competing for quality programme was approximately £1·5 million on payments to consultants—including advice on efficiency improvements for units subject to competition—and approximately £6·5 million on other costs. It is estimated that annual savings of £27 million have been generated by this programme so far.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those parts of the Prison Service which are scheduled to be market-tested, giving in each case the projected timetable and the estimated cost of the market-test.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 24 October 1994]Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 3 November 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about those parts of the Prison Service scheduled to be market-tested.
  Work is currently underway to market test the management of the vehicle fleet. In addition, plans are being developed to market test the Parole Board Secretariat and one or two establishments. Invitations to tender for the management of the vehicle fleet are expected by the end of 1994 and a decision on the preferred supplier by June 1995. The anticipated staff and consultancy costs of managing this market test are £30,000. The timetable for the market testing of the Parole Board Secretariat has not yet been planned and therefore the estimated costs are not known.
  Once the Prison Board has decided on which one or two establishments will be market tested, it is estimated that the preferred supplier will be identified within about nine months. The projected staff and consultancy costs for managing each test are expected to be about £100,000.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will specify, for each individual prison and department within the Prison Service, the exact benefits, financial or otherwise, which have accrued directly as a result of market testing and/or the contracting out of the management of the Wolds, Blakenhurst, Doncaster and Strangeways prisons, and any other market-testing exercise within the agency to date.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 24 October 1994]The Director General of the Prison Service will write to the hon. Member.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those parts of the Prison Service which have been market-tested to date, giving in each case the cost of the market-test, the date of the market-test and the outcome.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 24 October 1994]Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
  1352
  Letter from Derek Lewis to Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 3 November 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about those parts of the Prison Service which have been market tested.
  Work in the Prison Service which has been exposed to competition as part of our Competing for Quality programme comprised of the following market tests and contracting:

  1992–93 Programme

  Contract award

  Court Escort and Custody Services East Midlands and Humberside Decision announced 6 November 1992

  Contracted to Group 4.

  Blakenhurst Prison Decision announced 3 December 1992

  Contracted to UKDS

  Prison Education service

  Previously outsourced

  Decision announced 11 February 1993

  All competitions completed and contracts in place.

  Prison Service Information

  Contract awarded to SERCO.

  Technology Group Decision announced 31 August 1992

  Contract awarded to SERCO

  Manchester Prison Decision announced 15 July 1993

  In-house win following a market test.

  Warehousing and Distribution Decision announced March 1993

  In-house win following a market test.

  Facilities Management at Newbold Revel Decision announced 31 August 1994

  In-house win for services previously Provided in-house, following a market test.Taylorplan awarded contract for catering and house-keeping

  Court Escort and Custody Service Metropolitan Area Decision announced 16 December 1993

  Contracted to Securicor

  Doncaster Prison Decision announced 12 January 1994

  Contracted to Premier Prison Services

  Buckley Hall Prison Decision announced 19 July 1994

  Contract awarded to Group 4 following a market test

  Notes:

  In addition a number of candidates, initially identified for competition, were withdrawn before formal testing.

  The overall cost of managing our Competing for Quality programme up to June 1994 has been about £3 million. This includes all direct running costs, consultancy and overheads.

  Savings of at least £17 million a year have been produced and therefore net savings of £14 million have been generated.

  Overseas Domestic Workers
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many overseas domestic workers sought assistance from(a) official and (b) voluntary bodies in cases of exploitation in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  This information is not available.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many overseas domestic workers suffering(a) physical abuse, (b) denial of food, (c) reduced or no pay, (d) passport confiscation or (e)

  1353
  imprisonment in the employer's home were reported to him in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  This information is not recorded.

  Fire Certificates
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many fire certificates issued under the Fire Precautions Act 1971 are in force in places of work.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  In 1993–94 there were 126,417 such certificates in force.

  Police Finances
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how soon police forces in England and Wales will be notified of their financial allocation for 1995–96.

  Mr. Maclean
  Police authorities will be notified of their allocations of central Government support in the same way as other classes of local authorities. Details of the proposed local government settlement for England and Wales for 1995–96 will be available very shortly after the Budget announcement.

  Wolds

  Blakenhurst

  Doncaster

  Manchester

  Prisoner Custody Officers

  82

  222

  228

  1395

  Supervisory Prisoner Custody Officers

  39

  53

  29

  278

  Other staff

  100

  92

  164

  247

  Total staff

  221

  367

  421

  720

  1Prison Officers.

  2Senior Officers and Principal Officers.

  Children of God
  Mr. Frank Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what effect recent discoveries about the organisation entitled the Children of God will have on his proposed changes in the responsibilities of the Obscene Publications Department of the Metropolitan police.

  Mr. Maclean
  The obscene publications branch—S01(4)—is within the scope of the Commissioner's intended restructuring exercise. This aims to make the best possible use of resources in the fight against crimes, including all forms of obscene publications and paedophilia.

  I understand that the Commissioner intends responsibility for paedophilia and top level criminality uncovered by investigations into pornography to remain centralised within S01(4). These recent changes within the Metropolitan police will not effect their ability to investigate allegations of child abuse against organisations such as the Children of God.

  Mr. Frank Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he will take to deal with the situation discovered in relation to the organisation entitled the Children of God; and if he will make a statement.

  House Fires
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people were(a) killed and (b) injured in residential house fires in (i) 1992–93 and (ii) 1993–94.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  Figures on fire deaths are provided on a calendar year basis. In 1992 there were 594 fire deaths in dwellings and 11,206 non-fatal casualties. Provisional figures for 1993 show that there were 535 deaths from fires in dwellings and 11,370 non-fatal casualties.

  Prison Staff Statistics
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide a breakdown of(a) staff posts by rank and (b) actual numbers in post at the following prisons: Wolds, Blakenhurst, Manchester and Doncaster at the latest available date.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 24 October 19941: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 3 November 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the staffing levels at Wolds, Blakenhurst, Manchester and Doncaster prisons.
  The table below shows the staffing figures at these prisons at 19 October 1994.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  The Government understand the concerns about the activities of certain organisations. The Government have no power to ban such groups.

  Where allegations of child abuse or any other wrong doing are made against groups or individuals it would be a matter for the police to investigate.

  Prisons (Drugs)
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the estimated cost of introducing drug testing in prisons in 1994–95 and each of the next five years;

  (2) in which prisons pilot drug testing schemes will be conducted;

  (3) what is the timetable for the introduction of drug testing in prisons.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 24 October 1994]The Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 provides prison officers with the power, where an authorisation is in force for that prison, to require prisoners to produce a urine sample for the purpose of testing for controlled drugs. New prison rules will make it a disciplinary offence for a prisoner to misuse controlled drugs. It will also be an offence for a prisoner to refuse to provide a sample for testing purposes.
  1355
  I intend to use these powers to introduce a random testing programme covering all inmates. Prisons will be required to test a set proportion of their population each month.

  In addition, prison officers will require prisoners to provide a sample for testing at any time if the officer has reasonable suspicion that the prisoner has been misusing drugs.

  Persistent offenders will be tested at a much greater frequency than the general prison population.

  Eight prison establishments have been chosen for the initial phase of the drug testing programme. These are Bristol, Holloway, Lindholm, Pentonville, Wakefield and Wayland prisons, and HMYOURC Feltham and HMP/YOI Stoke Heath.

  The initial phase will commence once the necessary legislation is in place early next year. It is our intention that the drug testing programme will then be developed quickly across the remaining prison establishments.

  Initial estimates of the costs of the first phase are approximately £200,000 in 1994–95 and, in the light of the pilot schemes, the estimate will be revised for the next five years.

  Mr. Eastham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has on the proportion of prisoners who are drug addicts using shared injection equipment; and if prison management will provide(a) needles or(b) bleach for cleaning needles.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 1 November 1994]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. Ken Eastham dated 3 November 1994:
  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office to reply to your recent Question on the proportion of prisoners who are drug addicts using shared injection equipment and the provision of needles and bleach in prisons.
  The Prison Service views, as a top priority, the reduction of drug misuse in the English and Welsh prisons. There is no research on the proportion of prisoners who are drug addicts and use shared drug injecting equipment.
  The policy is that neither needles or bleach are provided in prisons.

EMPLOYMENT

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Dowd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of unemployed people went on from restart interviews to(a) restart or other training, (b) full-time jobs, or (c) part-time jobs of fewer than 24 hours a week in the last 12 months.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service Agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from M.E.G. Fogden to Mr. Jim Dowd, dated 3 November 1994:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about the proportion of unemployed people who went on from
  1356
  Restart interviews to a Restart course or other training and full or part time employment.
  Unfortunately, not all of the information you have requested is available as we do not differentiate between full and part time employment placings.
  Between October 1993 and September, 842,857 clients started Employment Department (ED) employment or training programmes following a Restart Interview. This figure includes Jobclub, Jobplan, Job Review Workshop, Work Trials, Business Start-Up Scheme, Community Action and Job Interview Guarantee as well as Restart Courses and training options like Training for Work and Learning for Work. This represents 29.4 per cent. of the total Restart interviews conducted.
  Restart interviews also achieve other positive outcomes including clients moving on to other benefits and signing off for other reasons. Between October 1993 and September these additional positive outcomes totalled 6.3 per cent. of all Restart interviews. The total positive outcomes figure therefore for the 12 months to September equalled 37.2 per cent. of all Restart interviews.
  In terms of immediate jobs, between October 1993 and September, Restart interviews led to 43,880 clients being placed into jobs. This represents 1.5 per cent. of the total Restart interviews conducted.
  I should emphasise that the figures quoted above represent only the immediate result of Restart interviews. Many other people subsequently take up a job or a place on an employment or training programme as a result of the guidance given to them at their interview. Independent researchers who have studied the Restart Interview programme have all concluded that this indirect effect is extremely significant.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State of Employment what percentages of the(a) male and (b) female population aged between 55 and 65 years are currently in paid (i) full-time and (ii) part-time employment.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The "Labour Force Survey" for spring 1994 shows that, of men aged 55–64, 50 per cent. were in full-time employment and 6 per cent. in part-time employment. The equivalent figures for women were 15 per cent. and 23 per cent. respectively.

  Employment on Trial Scheme
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people in the latest period for which figures are available took advantage of the employment on trial scheme leaving a job within six weeks without any benefit sanction.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Unemployed claimants who find work are not required to notify the Employment Service that they are taking advantage of the employment on trial rule. There are as a result no records available of how many people successfully stay in their new jobs rather than returning to unemployment. ES does not currently maintaim records of the number of people who are not sanctioned on leaving a job after the sixth week of their trial period.

  Factory Inspectors
  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many factory inspectors were employed in England and Wales in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The following table gives(a) the total number of factory inspectors employed on inspection duties, based in the Health and Safety Executive's area

  1357
  offices in England and Wales and (b) the total numbers of factory inspectors employed in HSE in Great Britain.

  1 April

  (a)

  (b)

  1979

  579·0

  742·5

  1980

  585·5

  759·5

  1981

  569·5

  735·0

  1982

  531·0

  678·5

  1983

  507·5

  654·5

  1984

  487·0

  627·0

  1985

  504·0

  651·0

  1986

  492·0

  623·0

  1987

  490·5

  621·5

  1988

  468·0

  592·5

  1989

  481·0

  604·0

  1990

  509·5

  634·5

  1991

  521·0

  651·0

  1992

  561·0

  698·5

  1993

  567·0

  707·5

  1994

  562·5

  702·5

  Figures show full-time equivalent staff: part-time staff counted as 0.5.

  Not including specialist inspectors, who were part of the factory inspectorate prior to 1986.

  Workplace Accidents
  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many accidents at work resulting in serious injuries occurred in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The information is not available in the form requested. For the calender years 1981 to 1985 injuries at work were reported under the Notification of Accidents and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations; from 1 April 1986 definitions were extended under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations. The number of accidents that led to these injuries cannot be separately identified.

  Refuge Holes
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the statutory requirements in respect of refuge holes by the roadways of working collieries.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  Section 40 of the Mines and Quarries Act 1954 requires the mine manager to provide refuge holes at prescribed intervals on roads along which vehicles operate. More detailed requirements concerning the intervals between refuge holes in coal mines, their dimensions and other matters are set out in regulation 59 of the Coal and Other Mines (Shafts and Outlets) Regulations 1960.

  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is his estimate of(a) the number of refuge holes which have been removed from the roadways of working collieries and (b) the extent of new roadway which has been provided without such refuge holes, together with an estimate of the shortfall in the number of such holes; what reasons he has been given for such removal or non-construction; and who authorised such removal or non-construction.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The Health and Safety Executive is not aware that any refuge holes have been removed from the roadways of working collieries or that any new roadway has been built without the required refuge holes. Any shortfall in provision arises from the repair of rebuilding of existing refuge holes necessitated by strata 1358
  movement. It is not possible to estimate the extent of this work at any one time.

  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is his estimate of the current short-fall in refuge holes in the roadways of working collieries with reference to the legal requirement.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  This information is not available. Conditions below ground are constantly changing due to the dynamic effects of strata movement which requires refuge holes to be repaired or remade as appropriate.

  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many special breaches of regulation have occurred in the last two years in respect of the removal of or failure to provide refuge holes by the roadways of working collieries.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The information is not available in the form requested.

  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment he has made of the effect of re—establishing refuge holes on(a) the established rock bolting pattern and (b) the affected roadways.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 28 October 1994]: The design of roadway support systems always take account of refuge hole formation.

  In re-establishing refuge holes, the method of supporting them in conjunction with the support system adopted for the roadway has to be fully considered in the preparation of the manager's support rules.

  Industrial Injuries
  Mr. Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what transitional protection will be afforded to non—employed status trainees hitherto eligible to benefit under his Department's analogous industrial injuries scheme, following the enactment of the Social Security (Incapacity For Work) Act 1994; and what transitional arrangements will apply for participants in other schemes funded through his Department and affected by this legislation.

  Mr. Paice
  With effect from 13 April 1995, non-employed status participants who are injured, or who contract a prescribed disease, will need to make their initial claim to the Department of Social Security. Where a trainee does not satisfy the contribution requirements for the receipt of incapacity benefit, income support can be claimed.

  Payment of disablement benefit and severe disablement allowance is unaltered by the new legislation. Non—employed status participants who qualify for these benefits, whether adults or young people, will continue to receive equivalent payments through the Department under the analogous industrial injuries scheme.

  The new arrangements are not retrospective. Payments to participants injured prior to 13 April 1995 will continue for as long as medical evidence confirms this to be necessary.

  Departmental Property
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what properties are owned or leased by his Department for the use of Ministers; what was the total
  1359
  running cost for each property for the latest year available broken down into (a) furniture and fittings,{b) maintenance, (c) staffing, including the number of butlers, cooks and housekeepers,{d) food and hospitality and (e) other costs; what is the estimated value of each property; and how many times in the latest year the property was stayed in overnight by a Minister.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The Employment Department group does not own or lease any properties for the specific use of Ministers.

  Jubilee Line Extension
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he is taking to investigate the incident affecting the Jubilee line extension project which has caused the closure of Westminster underground station.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  Inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive have already commenced an investigation into the incident at Westminster underground station on 31 October.

  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will now investigate the safety of both the Jubilee line extension and Heathrow express projects.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  On 27 October the Health and Safety Commission announced that it had asked the Health and Safety Executive to investigate the partial collapse of tunnels under construction at Heathrow airport. The tunnelling technique being used, the new austrian tunnelling method—NATM—has also been adopted for use on part 'of the Jubilee line extension project; contractors have suspended the use of the NATM technique as a precautionary measure. HSE has asked for tunnelling not to re—start at Heathrow or on the Jubilee line until it is clear that this can be done safely.

  Apart from NATM, HSE will continue to address health and safety matters in connection with other aspects of work on both projects as part of its general programme of inspection visits.

  Spencer Stuart Consultants
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many contracts his Department or Government agencies responsible to his Department have entered into with Spencer Stuart consultants in the last two years.

  Miss Widdecombe
  I know of no such contracts.

  Work Permits
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement regarding the issuing of work permits to non-European Community citizens resident in other European Community countries.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  A work permit is normally required by an overseas national from outside the European economic area who is seeking to take employment in Great Britain, irrespective of his current place of residence.

  Market Testing
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is his current calculation of the costs 1360
  of preparation for market testing in his Department in terms of (a) payments to consultants and (b) other costs.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The total costs for the Employment Department group for the period to 30 June 1994 have been estimated as follows:(a) £1·9 million for consultancy fees, which covers consultancy support to in-house bid teams and to the Department;
  (b) £4·4 million for other departmental costs, which covers set up and running costs for central market testing units.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Quotas
  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many category 3(c) applications his Department has received for (a) sheep quota and (b) suckler cow quota for each year for which figures are available; and how many of those applications have been successful.

  Mr. Jack
  Some 2,541 applications for sheep quota and 1,606 applications for suckler cow quota from category 3(c) of the national reserve have been received. Allocations will be made later in November. I will write to my hon. Friend with further details as soon as I am able.

  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects allocation of further sheep quota from the national reserve to be made; and how long a period of time will be given thereafter for leasing and transferring of quotas.

  Mr. Jack
  The processing of sheep quota from the national reserve categories 3 to 7 will be completed by mid-November and allocations will be made thereafter. The second period for notifying transfers and leases will open after reserve allocations have been made and is expected to last for six weeks.

  Animal Importation (Slaughter)
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many sheep and other animals are being imported annually for slaughter, from where, and to which destinations.

  Mrs. Browning
  [pursuant to his reply, 21 April 1994, column 625-26]: The table included in my predecessor's reply showed imports of small numbers of live animals from Nicaragua and Iran. Subsequent investigation by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise has established that in all cases these imports were in fact from the Irish Republic but had been miscoded.

  A revised table, included other revisions, follows.
  1361

  Numbers of live animals imported into the United Kingdom during 1992

  All bovines

  Sheep

  Goats

  Pigs

  All horses

  of which 1fat

  France

  2,746

  202

  261

  —

  —

  515

  Belgium-Luxembourg

  11

  —

  59

  —

  —

  416

  Netherlands

  4,577

  538

  392

  —

  —

  393

  Germany

  177

  35

  5

  —

  —

  354

  Italy

  19

  —

  —

  —

  —

  104

  Irish Republic2

  72,269

  40,430

  205,300

  71

  109,652

  4,360

  Denmark

  329

  91

  —

  —

  —

  214

  Greece

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  13

  Portugal

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  15

  Spain

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  11

  Iceland

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  20

  Norway

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  6

  Sweden

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  27

  Finland

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3

  Switzerland

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  20

  Austria

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  25

  Turkey

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  Poland

  187

  —

  —

  —

  —

  122

  Czechoslovakia

  250

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  Hungary

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  55

  Former USSR

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  83

  Canada

  234

  —

  —

  —

  —

  13

  USA

  —

  —

  —

  —

  12

  488

  Austral-Oceania

  29

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Puerto-Rico

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Colombia

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Chile

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  7

  Argentina3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  116

  Barbados

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3

  Sudan

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  Jordan

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  8

  Kuwait

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  5

  Guyana

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Israel

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Senegal

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Guinea

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Ghana

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Cameroon

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  South Africa

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Namibia

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Dubai

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3

  Japan

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Australia

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  12

  New Zealand

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  41

  Hong Kong

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Malaysia

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  China

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Philippines

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Indonesia

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  80,828

  41,296

  206,017

  71

  109,664

  7,462

  Source:

  Her Majesty's Customs and Excise

  Notes:

  1 Recorded as "fat" and covers heifers and steers for slaughter.

  2 Some sheep import data estimated from weight of animals concerned.

  3 Some horse import data estimated from weight of animals concerned.

  Animal Transportation
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how many consignments of calves have been exported since 1 October 1994 from(a) Humberside airport, (b) Bournemouth Hurn airport, (c) Aldergrove airport and (d) other United Kingdom airports; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) how many (a) calves and (b) sheep and lambs have been exported since 1 October 1994 from (i) Poole, (ii) Portsmouth, (iii) Plymouth, (iv) Grimsby, (v) Dover, (vi)
  1362
  Newhaven (vii) Fishguard, (viii) Holyhead, (ix) Shoreham-on-Sea, (x) Sheerness and (xi) other United Kingdom ports; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Browning
  The information is not collected centrally but the hon. Member will know that the export of live animals for slaughter or further fattening on new routes is allowed only when we are satisfied with the arrangements for protecting the welfare of the animals.

  No shipments of these categories of animal have been authorised since 1 October from the ports of Newhaven, Shoreham-on-Sea and Sheerness.
  1363
  My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has advised that three consignments of calves have been exported from Aldergrove airport.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will place in the Library the account of the Government veterinary surgeon of the first flight of calves from Bournemouth Hurn airport.

  Mrs. Browning
  I will write to the hon. Member shortly with a full account of the journey.

  Agriculture Council
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent (Mr. Smith) of 17 October, Official Report, column 142, what was the nature of the French memorandum briefly discussed in any other business at the Agriculture Council meeting in Brussels on 20 September; and what were the French proposals on the future of European agriculture.

  Mr. Jack
  The memorandum, tabled by the French Agriculture Minister, is entitled "Ambitions for European Agriculture". It includes various ideas on the implementation of GATT obligations in relation to market access and exports, and points to the need both for further simplification of the common agricultural policy and for greater stress on subsidiarity. The memorandum also argues for a reduction in the set-aside rate for 1994–95, which was the subject of a Commission proposal discussed at the Council on 24-25 October.

  . Departmental Property
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what properties are owned or leased by his Department for the use of Ministers; what was the total running cost for each property for the latest year available broken down into(a) furniture and fittings, (b) maintenance, (c) staffing, including the number of butlers, cooks and housekeepers, (d) food and hospitality and (e) other costs; what is the estimated value of each property; and how many times in the latest year the property was stayed in overnight by a Minister.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Excluding departmental offices, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food does not own or lease any property for the use of Ministers.

  Sheep Annual Premium Scheme
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many farmers in England have not yet received payment of their advance payments with respect to the 1994 sheep annual premium scheme.

  Mr. Jack
  As at 28 October 1994 first and second advance payments of 1994 sheep annual premium have been made on 36,300 claims, 92 per cent. of all non-rejected claims received. The number of unpaid claims is 3,164. Payment on the majority of outstanding claims will be made when allocations from the national reserve of quota are made and, in some cases, once producers have been given a further opportunity to acquire quota in the second transfer and lease period.

  Dioxins
  Ms Armstrong
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made as to 1364
  whether current tests properly identify the presence of dioxins in (a) milk and (b) elsewhere in the food chain.

  Mrs. Browning
  The Ministry's analysis of dioxins in milk and other foods has been conducted by the Central Science Laboratory's food science laboratory in Norwich. All the data that the laboratory has provided on dioxins in food meet strict, published acceptance criteria. Furthermore, the laboratory has demonstrated in independent, international inter-laboratory trials that its data are accurate and reliable. As a result, the laboratory is highly regarded by other analysts, enforcement authorities, and researchers in the broader scientific community. I am satisfied that the analysis conducted for the Ministry properly identifies and quantifies dioxins in food.

  Castle Cement Works
  Ms Armstrong
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish results of the monitoring of the effects of emissions from Castle Cement Works on the food chain.

  Mrs. Browning
  The results were announced in the October 1994 issue of the "Food Safety Information Bulletin". Full details of the work and the analytical results are given in the supplementary food surveillance information sheet No. 44 and have been made available to the relevant local authority and other interested parties. I have placed copies of the bulletin and information sheet in the Library.

  Castle Cement Works
  Ms Armstrong
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps his Department are taking to continue monitoring(a) the Castle Cement Works plant and (b) other plants where recycled liquid fuel is being burnt.

  Mrs Browning
  Tests on samples of cows' milk taken in July this year from farms around the Castle Cement Works in Clitheroe gave no indication of any elevation in levels of dioxins, heavy metals or arsenic. The Ministry has no plans for further monitoring around the Castle Cement Works or any other plants where similar fuel is used.

  Spencer Stuart Consultants
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many contracts his Department or Government agencies responsible to his Department have entered into with Spencer Stuart consultants in the last two years.

  Mr. Jack
  From the Ministry's central records, excluding Agencies, covering the financial year 1990–91 to 1993–94 inclusive, no contracts were entered into with Spencer Stuart consultants. Full returns for the financial year 1994–95 are not due until May 1995. For Government agencies responsible to the Minister, information is currently being gathered and I will write to the hon. Member as soon as this is available.

  Fisheries Council
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what issues he expects to discuss at the forthcoming Fisheries Council meeting.
  1365
  Mr. Jack
  The Council agenda has not yet been finalised but it is expected to include further discussions on future arrangements for access and control in western waters' fisheries, and a first discussion of a proposed amendment to the basic market regulation. The Commission is also likely to make proposals on tariff arrangements for a limited range of imports and on prices for fish and fish products for 1995.

  Market Testing
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his current calculation of the costs of preparation for market testing in his Department in terms of(a) payments to consultants and (b) other costs.

  Mr. Jack
  I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Drift Nets
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the results of the current European drift net regulation limiting their length to 2.5 km.

  Mr. Jack
  The derogation which allowed certain French vessels to use drift nets up to 5 km in length lapsed on 31 December 1993. Subsequently, all EU vessels have been required to use drift nets which do not exceed 2.5 km long—except in the Baltic which is managed by the International Baltic Sea Commission. This rule was applied in the north-east Atlantic fishery during the 1994 season, when French, Irish and United Kingdom vessels fished with draft nets. Subsequent consideration of this matter will be guided by the results of further scientific guidance.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture Fisheries and Food (1) what is his policy on the motion agreed by the European Parliament on 29 September to ban the use of drift nets beyond EU member state's 12-mile zones; whether he expects this proposal to be raised at the next Fisheries Council meeting; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what plans there are to improve the enforcement of current regulations on the use of drift nets in European waters; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) what plans there are to ban the use of drift nets in European waters; if he will be supporting these; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jack
  The Government's view is that drift nets up to 2·5 km long should continue to be legally acceptable both in coastal waters and elsewhere in the absence of scientific evidence that demonstrates a case for a ban; but that there is no justification for nets to be used which are more than 2·5 km long. The European Parliament's view that drift nets used in member state's 12-mile limit should be specifically authorised by the Commission appears to be unnecessarily bureaucratic and inconsistent with subsidiarity. We support cost-effective and practical enforcement arrangements, and discussions on this will take place before next year's fishery opens.

  Decisions on the Commission's proposal are not expected to be made by the Council in the advance of further work which has been commissioned from the EU's scientific technical and economic committee on fisheries which is scheduled to meet in December.
  1366
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what research has been carried out into the social effects on traditional fishing communities of the use of drift nets in European waters;

  (2) what research has been carried out into the effects of the use of drift nets in European waters on the population of (a) the striped dolphin and (b) other marine wildlife.

  Mr. Jack
  I am not aware of any research into the social effects on traditional fishing communities of the use of drift nets in European Waters, although the Commission's report on drift nets issued in April 1994 refers to the difficulties that certain communities would experience if drift netting was to be banned, because they are so dependent on drift net fisheries. IFREMER, the French marine research institute, reported last year on its research work into the effects of drift nets on a range of marine creatures including striped dolphins.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many drift nets in use by(a) United Kingdom, (b) Irish,(c) French and (d) Spanish fishing vessels were measured by the north-east Atlantic tuna fishery this summer; which was the longest drift net recorded and how many times it was measured; how and by whom this net was measured (i) at sea and (ii) on land; and what lengths were recorded on each occasion.

  Mr. Jack
  The only information of net measurement that we hold is carried out by the United Kingdom fisheries inspectorate. We measured 13 nets. The longest net recorded was 3 km.

  Farming Subsidies
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the current average subsidy paid to farmers in the United Kingdom from all Government and European Economic Community sources.

  Mr. Jack
  Farmers benefit from direct payments and through other CAP support measures, but these can change over short periods of time due, for example, to exchange rate fluctuations, so no figure which accords with a current average figure is maintained. However, details of public expenditure under the CAP and on national grants and subsidies are contained in table 9.1 of "Agriculture in the United Kingdom 1993", a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

  Set-aside Land
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what is the current payment per acre for set-aside land; and what is the total amount which he expects to pay to British farmers for this arrangement in the current year;

  (2) on what grounds he has proposed to the Commission that recipients of the set-aside scheme should be permitted to grow trees on such land;

  (3) if he will make a statement outlining the subsidies, grants and allowances which are available for the growing of trees in the United Kingdom; and if such payments would be available to occupiers of set-aside land in the

  1367
  event of the Commission agreeing to his proposals for the flexible use of set-aside land.

  Mr. Jack
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Less Favoured Areas
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his predecessor's answer of 20 April,Official Report, column 564, if he will provide an amended table to the numbers of workers on

  Total labour force and total part-time workers by county in England June 1992 Census (excluding minor holdings)

  Total Labour force1

  Regular part-time labour force2

  All holdings

  Holdings wholly or mainly in the LFA

  All holdings

  Holdings wholly or mainly in the LFA

  Avon

  6,032

  —

  1,450

  —

  Bedfordshire

  3,602

  —

  815

  —

  Berkshire

  2,372

  —

  611

  —

  Buckinghamshire

  4,697

  —

  1,370

  —

  Cleveland

  1,102

  306

  213

  61

  Cambridgeshire

  11,063

  —

  2,244

  —

  Cheshire

  11,285

  419

  2,440

  132

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  15,509

  2,756

  3,786

  739

  Cumbria

  14,501

  5,942

  2,863

  1,101

  Derbyshire

  8,711

  3,078

  2,175

  796

  Devon

  24,836

  5,543

  6,137

  1,355

  Dorset

  8,305

  —

  2,097

  —

  Durham

  5,085

  2,590

  1,056

  531

  Essex

  12,544

  —

  3,256

  —

  Gloucestershire

  8,327

  —

  2,201

  —

  Hampshire

  10,548

  —

  2,776

  —

  Humberside

  11,475

  —

  1,958

  —

  Hereford and Worcester

  19,111

  715

  4,333

  171

  Hertfordshire

  3,683

  —

  912

  —

  Isle of Wight

  1,488

  —

  368

  —

  Kent

  20,627

  —

  4,652

  —

  Lancashire

  15,476

  3,781

  3,577

  884

  Leicestershire

  7,095

  —

  1,683

  —

  Lincolnshire

  -21,694

  —

  -4,410

  —

  Merseyside

  1,533

  —

  338

  —

  Greater London

  1,498

  —

  394

  —

  Greater Manchester

  3,517

  742

  893

  185

  Norfolk

  18,407

  —

  3,769

  —

  Northamptonshire

  5,165

  —

  1,308

  —

  Northumberland (inc Tyne and Wear)

  7,184

  3,867

  1,400

  807

  Nottinghamshire

  5,997

  —

  1,353

  —

  Oxfordshire

  5,956

  —

  1,408

  —

  Shropshire

  12,521

  1,650

  2,752

  384

  Somerset

  14,503

  942

  3,409

  254

  Staffordshire

  11,258

  1,942

  2,450

  435

  Suffolk

  12,909

  —

  3,032

  —

  Surrey

  5,553

  —

  1,670

  —

  East Sussex

  6,385

  —

  1,792

  —

  West Sussex

  8,988

  —

  2,172

  —

  Warwickshire

  6,385

  —

  1,556

  —

  Wiltshire

  8,217

  —

  1,913

  —

  West Midlands

  1,246

  —

  320

  —

  South Yorkshire

  3,668

  647

  802

  154

  North Yorkshire

  22,936

  5,456

  4,512

  1,083

  West Yorkshire

  7,080

  2,589

  2,057

  810

  England

  420,074

  42,965

  96,683

  9,882

  1 Includes all farmers, partners and directors, spouses, salaried managers and regular whole-time and part-time hired and family workers and seasonal and casual workers.

  2 Includes part-time farmers, partners and directors, regular part-time family and hired workers but excludes seasonal and casual workers.

  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his predecessor's answer of 24 May.Official Report, column 145, if he will provide
  1368
  agricultural holdings encompassing (a) all agricultural holdings in the less favoured areas, including those beneath eight ESUs and (b) all part-time workers, including those employed on farms beneath eight ESUs; and if he will provide a further breakdown for each district authority which features less favoured area land within its boundaries.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  [holding answer 24 October 1994]: The table provides the information requested for the counties in England. I will write to the hon. Member with details for local government districts.

  a further breakdown for each local government district authority of the number of less favoured area holdings.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I will write to the hon. Member with the information as soon as possible.

  Gulf War Syndrome
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of evidence suggesting a link between exposure to organo-phosphorous pesticides used for delousing during the Gulf war, and Gulf war syndrome; and what plans his Department has to take steps to outlaw the use of organo-phosphorous pesticides.

  Mrs. Browning
  I have made no assessment of this suggested link and have no plans to ban the use of organo-phosphorous pesticides. Pesticides cannot be marketed or used in the United Kingdom unless shown to be effective, humane and to pose no unacceptable risks to humans, non-target species or the environment. Pesticides are also routinely reviewed and may be reviewed urgently if new evidence emerges.

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Sir Peter Emery
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will press the European Commission to lift without delay the export ban on animals exposed to BSE.

  Mrs. Browning
  I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Benefits (Savings)
  Sir Ralph Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the saving in the whole range of social security benefits, including unemployment benefit and training payments, and exemption from prescription charges and other associated benefits, if everybody who was fit and able to work were deemed to have earned £120 per week between the ages of 18 years of age and state retirement age, and if all young people between 16 and 17 years of age were deemed to have earned £60 per week.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  I will write to my hon. Friend shortly.

  Incomes
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the percentage change in income since 1990 before and after housing costs, of each decile group in the population.

  Mr. Burt
  The latest available information is given in the table. The data source is the Department of Social Security's households below average income—HBAI—analysis.

  A copy of the latest edition is in the Library.

  Data are for the combined years 1990 and 1991 (1990–91) and 1991 and 1992 (1991–92) as in the publication. This is in line with HBAIs stocktaking report of November 1991 which recommended that two years' data be combined to improve the accuracy of estimates. However, small changes from period to period are unlikely to be significant.
  1370

  Percentage change in real income for each decile group, 1990–91 to 1991–92

  Before housing costs

  After housing costs

  Decile 1 (bottom decile)

  (1)

  (-4)

  Decile 2

  1

  0

  Decile 3

  (0)

  (-1)

  Decile 4

  (-1)

  (0)

  Decile 5

  (0)

  (1)

  Decile 6

  (0)

  (1)

  Decile 7

  0

  0

  Decile 8

  0

  (1)

  Decile 9

  (0)

  (1)

  Decile 10

  (0)

  (0)

  Small changes from 1990–91 to 1991–92 are unlikely to be significant.

  Figures in brackets are particularly uncertain; the range in which the true change lies is greater than +/- 2.5 percentage points and greater than 30 per cent. of the estimate.

  Figures are rounded to the nearest whole per cent.

  Income Support
  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people(a) below the age of 20 years, (b) aged 20 to 29 years and (c) aged 30 years or over without accommodation were in receipt of income support in Scotland at the latest available date; and how many of them were unemployed at the time.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  Since publication of income support statistics for May 1991, collation of this information in local benefit offices is no longer undertaken by clerical means but by the income support computer system. However, although all main functions are in place, work is incomplete on some functions less central to everyday operation. This includes the process to retrieve information on claimants without accommodation. Steps have been taken to introduce an appropriate retrieval process from the May 1994 statistical inquiry, information from which is expected to be available in early 1995.

  Figures for May 1991 show that there were 1,000 income support recipients in Scotland without accommodation.

  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimates have been made of the take—up rate of income support by those potentially able to apply in the 55 to 65 years age group of(a) men and (b) women.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Crewe and Nantwich (Mrs. Dunwoody) on 21 June at column 142.

  Mr. Eddie Chapman
  Mr. Allason
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what measures have been taken in response to the appeal for financial assistance from Mr. Eddie Chapman.

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  This is a matter for Mr. Peter Mathison, the chief executive of the War Pensions Agency. He will write to my hon. Friend.

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Rupert Allason, dated 2 November 1994:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the response to the appeal for financial assistance from Mr. Arnold Edward Chapman.
  You may recall that I wrote to you on 19 July 1994 to say that a claim form had been sent to Mr. Chapman so that he could claim a War Disablement Pension. The completed form was not returned by

  1371
  Mr. Chapman until 19 October and then only after follow up action by the Agency.
  Mr. Chapman's claim is now being considered and I will keep you informed of progress.
  I hope you find my reply helpful.

  Habitual Residence Test
  Ms Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the estimated administration cost of the habitual residence test from 1 August 1994 to 1 August 1995; and what is the amount of income support the Government estimate will be saved by the application of this test.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The estimated annual cost to the Benefits Agency of administering the habitual residence test is £368,000. The estimated income support saving for the same period is in excess of £7 million.

  Disability Living Allowance
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what medical assessment is made of persons whose disability living allowance is now to be determined on the middle rate which was previously determined at a higher rate;

  (2) when he introduced a middle rate on disability living allowance; and how many people have been affected by the introduction of such a rate.

  Mr. Hague
  Disability living allowance was introduced on 1 April 1992 with three rates of the care component and two rates of the mobility component. The higher and middle rates of the care components are the same as the higher and lower rates of the old attendance allowance. The higher rate of the mobility component is the same as

  Disability Living Allowance

  Attendance Allowance

  Period

  Total decisions

  Favourable decisions

  Success rate per cent.

  Total decisions

  Favourable decisions

  Success rate per cent.

  Reviews

  1992–1993

  446,429

  19,580

  42

  99,709

  79,378

  80

  1993–1994

  293,199

  135,187

  46

  118,589

  90,742

  77

  April 1994—june 1995

  65,623

  34,595

  53

  24,995

  19,888

  80

  Appeals

  1992–1993

  276

  92

  33

  Statistics not available in the form requested.

  1993–1994

  18,459

  9,310

  50

  April 1994—june 1995

  7,150

  4,056

  57

  Notes:

  1. Decisions made in the period shown may not relate to requests for review and appeal made during the same period.

  2. Appeals figures for DLA in 1992–93 include a number of mobility allowance appeals.

  3. Favourable decisions are those where the rate of the award has been increased, figures include cases where the claimant's condition has deteriorated since the initial decision was made

  Child Support Agency
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will investigate urgently reports that staff of the Child Support Agency are improperly disposing of correspondence.

  Mr. Burt
  The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for Miss Ann Chant, the chief executive. She will write to the hon. Member.
  1372
  the old mobility allowance. On the introduction of the new benefit we took the opportunity to introduce a new lower rate for each component to extend the new arrangements to people who were unable to qualify for help before. The table shows the number of awards of the different rates of each component since February 1992 when claims could first be made.

  A key feature of the adjudication system for disability living allowance is self-assessment. However, a claimant can ask to be examined by an examining medical practitioner if he or she wishes. Whether an adjudication officer seeks a medical report depends on the particular circumstances of the case.

  Awards of DLA by component 1 February 1992 to 30 September 1994

  Component

  Number of awards

  Higher rate care

  141,221

  Middle rate care

  147,065

  Lower rate care

  231,878

  Higher rate mobility

  375,611

  Lower rate mobility

  189,584

  Note:

  The figures are the number of components awarded and include top-up claims. Some people may receive both components

  Source:

  Analytical Services Division 100 per cent. count.

  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of(a) reviews and (b) appeals were (i) successful and (ii) unsuccessful in each year since 1992–93 and the first quarter of 1994–95 for (1) care and (2) mobility components of (x) disability living allowance and (y) attendance allowance.

  Mr. Hague
  [holding answer 1 November 1994]: The available information is in the table.

  Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Mrs. Gwyneth Dunwoody, dated 3 November 1994:
  I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the disposal of correspondence in the Child Support Agency.
  Stories reported in the press stem from the fact that four files were found at the bottom of the lift shaft in the Agency's centre at Dudley earlier this year. No other correspondence has been found in comparable circumstances.
  The Agency's regional centres will typically receive some thousands of items of post each week, every one of which is recorded by registration staff before being sent to the appropriate section for action. Any evidence of post being disposed of

  1373
  improperly would be fully investigated, and disciplinary action taken as appropriate in the circumstances.
  I hope this reply is helpful, but if you want further information I will be happy to write to you further.

  Mr. Mills
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many employees of the Child Support Agency have been sent on outward bound courses since the agency was established; what was the cost per employee; and what was the total cost; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Burt
  The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for Miss Ann Chant, the chief executive. She will write to my hon. Friend.

  Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Mr. lain Mills, dated 3 November 1994:
  I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the number of employees the Child Support Agency has sent on "outward bound" courses.
  No member of the Agency's staff has been sent on an outward bound course but, like the whole of the Civil Service and any large employer, the Agency does on occasion send suitable management staff on external developmental training courses—including Outward Bound Trust "City Challenge" courses. Such courses may contain an element of outdoor activity.
  I hope that this reply is helpful, but if you want further information, I will be happy to write to you further.

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many deductions from earnings orders were made by the Child Support Agency in the year 1993–94;. and what proportion of these were in relation to interim assessments.

  Mr. Burt
  [pursuant to his reply, 21 July 1994, column 616–17]: Ann Chant, the chief executive of the Child Support Agency, has written further to my hon. Friend.

  Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Mr. Jonathan Evans, dated 3 November 1994:
  On 21 July, John Hughes, the Business Development Director, wrote to you in reply to PQ 2406/1993–94 which concerned the number of Deductions from Earnings Orders made by the Child Support Agency during 1993–94.
  Due to a typographical error, you were incorrectly advised that 2,200 such orders were issued. The correct figure is 2,600.
  Please accept my apologies for this error.

  Mr. Cann
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many interviews have now been carried out by each benefits agency branch office to investigate whether a person should be required to co-operate with the Child Support Agency.

  Mr. Burt
  The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for Miss Ann Chant, the chief executive. She will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Mr. Jamie, Cann dated 2 November 1994:
  I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the number of interviews the Child Support Agency has carried out in relation to the requirement to co-operate.
  Information is not available in the form you request, but I can tell you that to the end of August 1994, over 82,000 interviews had been undertaken by the Agency concerning the requirement to co-operate.
  I hope this reply is helpful.

  Pension Application Form
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what considerations led to the decision to include a request for information on the time, place and nature of marriage ceremonies undergone on the form of request for a state pension.

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The administration of Retirement Pension is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Michael Bichard to Mr. David Winnick, dated 3 November 1994:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to our Parliamentary Question about information requested on the time, place and nature of marriage ceremonies in the claim to a state pension.
  The state pension claim form is form BR1 and this form does request the date of marriage for a spouse or former spouse. If the form BR1 is being completed by a woman we also request the marriage certificate. This form does not ask for the time, place and nature of marriage ceremonies.
  We need to verify the date of marriage if the customer is a married woman claiming wholly or partly on her husband's contributions. In these circumstances it is essential to establish that the woman is married to the person on whose contributions her claim is to be based.
  For marriages that took place in the UK where the customer does not supply a certificate with the BR1, a form is sent to her requesting the certificate and giving information on how to obtain it if she does not have it. If this does not result in the production of the certificate a reminder is sent out. This reminder should be completed only if the customer is still unable to supply the certificate and it requests details including the date and place of the marriage, but not of the nature of marriage ceremony. This information is required so that the Benefits Agency can obtain verification of the marriage from the General Registrar's Office.
  In cases where marriage took place in a country which permits polygamy details are requested at the time, place and the law, religion or custom under which the marriage was performed. This information is required in order to enable the adjudication officer, whose responsibility it is to decide claims to benefit, to determine whether the marriage in question is monogamous on the day when all the entitlement conditions are satisfied.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Benefit Upratings
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of whether it would be operationally feasible to base April benefit upratings on the level of prices in a later month than the previous September.

  Mr. Hague
  The retail prices index information for the previous September is used as the basis for uprating benefits as this is the latest information which can be reasonably taken into account when assessing the Department's future expenditure plans as part of the unified budget process. The use of the September figure also allows the timely award of the new rates from the date of the uprating. We have no plans to change the existing arrangements.

  Overpayments
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will exercise his discretion not to recover an overpayment of sickness benefit and income support from Mr. Steven Heward of 137 Acklam road, Middlesbrough, reference NH398490C.
  1375
  Mr. Roger Evans
  An officer acting on behalf of the Secretary of State has considered the matter carefully and had decided that in the particular circumstances of this case no further action will be taken to recover the overpaid sums from Mr. Heward.

  Home Responsibilities Protection Scheme
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many employed(a) women arid (b) men are currently earning below the lower earnings limit; and how many of these are covered by the home responsibilities protection scheme.

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  It is estimated that 2·2 million women and 800,000 men earn less than the lower earnings limit in any week. The number of these covered by the home responsibilities protection scheme is not known, but those who satisfy the normal conditions for caring have potential access to the scheme.

  Pensions
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the number of holders of appropriate personal pensions who are contributing only their national insurance rebate; and if he will provide this information by relation to the income of the holder.

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The information is not available in the form requested. The number of APP holders who made no contribution in addition to the DSS payment in the financial year 1992–93—the latest year for which figures are available—was 3,050,000. The number of individuals contracted out of the state earnings-related pension scheme into APP as at 31 March 1993 was 5,004,000.

  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the total number of holders of appropriate personal pensions.

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The answer is 4,993,930.

  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what action he is taking to ensure that those who are holders of appropriate personal pensions but who would be better off rejoining SERPS are advised to do so.

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  All new appropriate personal pension holders automatically receive a copy of the DSS leaflet "Making the most of your Personal Pension—PP2". The leaflet advises APP holders to monitor continually their pension arrangements in the light of any changes in their circumstances and that they should seek expert financial advice before coming to any decision on whether to alter those arrangements.

  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many(a) women and (b) men applied to his Department requesting a projection of their future state pension entitlement in the last year for which figures are available; and how much it cost to provide.

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Crewe and Nantwich (Mrs. Dunwoody) on 22 June at column 184.

  Information regarding gender breakdown is not available.

  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the number of holders of appropriate personal pensions who have(a) reduced their contribution to the APP and (b) matched
  1376
  their contributions to their APP in each of the past five years.

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The information requested is not available.

  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the number of individuals who have opted out of the state earnings-related pension scheme for whom it would be financially beneficial to rejoin.

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The information requested is not available. The decision whether to contract out of SERPS depends on an individual's circumstances. Any appropriate personal pension holder who is concerned that he or she may be better off by rejoining SERPS should contact his or her pension provider.

  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish a table showing the projected average income for single(a) female and (b) male pensioners between 1994 and the year 2000 and the projected average full-time earnings over the same future period.

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The information requested is not available.

  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will update the information on average pensions at retirement given in his answer of 5 May,Official Report, column 615;

  (2) what estimate he has made of the number of holders of appropriate personal pensions who have rejoined SERPS in each of the past five years; and if he will provide this information by relation to the income of the holder.

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  I will write to the hon. Member shortly.

  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many(a) women and (b) men reaching retirement age in the years 2000, 2005, 2010 and 2020 the Government estimates will not qualify for a full basic state pension.

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Crewe and Nantwich (Mrs. Dunwoody) on 21 June at column 146.

  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of(a) the average amount total payment by employer and employees made on behalf of each member of occupational pension schemes and (b) what is the average annual total payment made by employers and employees on behalf of each member of personal pension schemes; and if he will publish a table indicating these average payments by relation to the income band of pension fund members.

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  In 1992–93 the average total amount paid by employers for each member of an occupational pension scheme was £1,700. The average total amount paid by each employee was £750.

  The average annual total payment made by employers on behalf of each employee holding a personal pension was £90. The average annual total payment made by each employee was £670, including minimum contributions.

  Information about average payments by relation to the income band of pension fund members is not available.

  Sir Peter Emery
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will, as a matter of urgency, seek to
  1377
  increase the extra pension payment to those who are over 80 years of age.

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  I will write to my hon. Friend shortly.

  Rent Allowance
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his Department's guidance to officials who become aware that housing allowance is not being paid over by the individual concerned to his or her landlord.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  Where a local authority is made aware that an individual has failed to pay their housing benefit, there is a statutory provision for benefit to be withheld, or for the local authority to commence direct payments to the landlord.

  Additionally, there is a mandatory provision for benefit to be paid direct to a landlord where there are eight or more weeks arrears of rent.

  Job Seeker's Allowance
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the number of people in Wales who will experience changes in their income if the job seeker's allowance is introduced.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  I will write to the hon. Member shortly.

  Benefits (Abolition)
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimates his Department have made of the numbers of people in Wales who will be affected by the abolition of income support and unemployment benefit; and, of these, how many will lose their entitlement to benefit after six months, because they have savings or redundancy money or partners in full-time work; how many households will have their income reduced as partners are forced to give up work in order to meet the means test; and how many women will have a change in their status.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  I will write to the hon. Member shortly.

  Severe Disablement Allowance
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if the entitlement conditions for an adult dependency increase of severe disablement allowance will be the same as those for an increase of incapacity benefit from April 1995.

  Mr. Hague
  Currently the conditions for receiving an adult dependency increase with severe disablement allowance are the same as for increases of invalidity benefit. We plan to introduce regulations shortly bringing them into line with the rules proposed for incapacity benefit. Under these rules, provision will be better targeted. Increases will be available in cases where: the beneficiary has a spouse who is aged 60 or over; the beneficiary has a spouse aged under 60 and dependent children; there is an adult, other than a spouse, who is caring for the beneficiary's dependent children. As now, there will be no payment where the dependent has earnings above a certain level. The earnings rule will be the same as for long-term incapacity benefit. Increases 1378
  will continue to be available from the start of the severe disablement allowance award.

  The new rules will apply to people claiming severe disablement allowance on or after 13 April 1995. There will be transitional protection for existing beneficiaries in line with that for transitional awards of long-term incapacity benefit.

  Departmental Property
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what properties are owned or leased by his Department for the use of Ministers; what was the total running cost for each property for the latest year available broken down into(a) furniture and fittings, (b) maintenance (c) staffing, including the number of butlers, cooks and housekeepers, (d) food and hospitality and (e) other costs; what is the estimated value of each property; and how many times in the latest year the property was stayed in overnight by a minister.

  Mr. Hague
  Excluding departmental offices, this Department does not own or lease any properties for the use of Ministers.

  Invalidity Benefit
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to allow women to receive full invalidity benefit past the age of 60 years.

  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he expects to pay invalidity benefit at the same rate to men and women between the ages of 60 and 65 years.

  Mr. Hague
  After state pension age, currently 60 for a woman, 65 for a man, the weekly rate of invalidity benefit is based on a person's retirement pension entitlement. We have no plans to change this at present. It has been the position since invalidity benefit was introduced in 1971, and a feature of the national insurance scheme since July 1948.

  There is a case before the European Court of Justice concerning the rate of invalidity benefit payable to women on reaching state pension age. A ruling is not expected before July 1995.

  From 13 April 1995, invalidity benefit and sickness benefit will be replaced by incapacity benefit. When a person reaches state pension age payment of incapacity benefit will normally cease as retirement pension is the appropriate benefit.

  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the progress of current legal actions in respect of the granting of full invalidity benefit to women past the age of 60 years.

  Mr. Hague
  The hon. Member is referring to the case of Mrs. Rose Graham, which has been appealed to the Court of Appeal. At a hearing on 18 January 1994, the Court of Appeal decided to refer questions of European law arising in the case of the European Court of Justice. The questions to be referred were agreed by all parties. The court's procedure involves inviting all member states to submit observations on the points at issue. A ruling is not expected before July 1995 at the earliest.

  Incapacity Assessment Panel
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 25 October,Official

  1379
  Report, column 564, on what date the members of the panel on assessment of incapacity were informed that their names would be published only with their agreement.

  Mr. Hague
  A letter was sent to panel members on 25 August 1994, in which they were invited to contact the Department if they did not agree to their names being published in the report "The medical assessment for Incapacity Benefit".

  Spencer Stuart Consultants
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many contracts his Department or Government agencies responsible to his Department have entered into with Spencer Stuart consultants in the last two years.

  Mr. Hague
  None.

  Child Benefit
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many families in Wales(a) received child benefit and (b) were eligible to receive it at the latest available date;

  (2) how many children there are in families in receipt of child benefit in Wales; and how many there are in families which are eligible.

  Mr. Burt
  It is estimated that on 31 December 1993 there were 356,575 families in Wales receiving child benefit in respect of 642,400 children. Information on numbers eligible for child benefit is not available, but take-up in Great Britain is estimated to be nearly 100 per cent.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Rwanda
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action is being taken by the United Nations to prevent the reformation of a Rwandan Hutu army within refugee camps.

  Mr. Baldry
  The UN Secretariat is preparing a consolidated report on the security situation in the refugee camps.

  The report, which is due shortly, is expected to cover the possibility of separating out the remnants of the army of the former Rwanda Government and to contain options for international action.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what precautions he is taking to ensure that aid being provided to Rwandan refugees in Zaire is not used by those responsible for genocide in Rwanda to re-establish their authority; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  We maintain a close dialogue with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. She is considering with donor Governments and other United Nations organisations a number of options to improve security in the camps, to help ensure that emergency aid is delivered unimpeded to the refugees in genuine need.

  Turkey
  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made recently to(a) the Council of Europe, (b) the European Union, (c) the United Nations and (d) the Committee on Security and Co-operation in Europe, regarding the abuse of human rights by the Government of Turkey.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We regularly contribute to discussion in international fora on the abuse of human rights in Turkey. The subject was discussed most recently at the CSCE review conference in Budapest.

  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from the Government of Turkey regarding the presence of Mr. Kani Yilmaz in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Davis
  No formal representations have been received from the Government of Turkey. We understand the Turkish authorities are aware of Mr. Yilmaz's detention.

  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he was first informed of the arrival of Mr. Kani Yilmaz in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. David Davis
  We were informed on 24 October of the arrival of Mr. Kani Yilmaz in the United Kingdom the previous evening.

  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made regarding the imprisonment and requested execution of elected members of the Turkish Parliament.

  Mr. David Davis
  We have repeatedly made plain to the Turkish authorities the damage that these arrests have done to Turkey's international reputation. Her Majesty's embassy in Ankara is monitoring carefully the trial which began on 3 August. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs also raised the issue of human rights in Turkey with the Prime Minister Mrs. Ciller when they met in Istanbul on 14 October.

  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contact his Department had with Mr. Kani Yilmaz on his previous visits to the United Kingdom.

  Mr. David Davis
  My Department had no contact with Mr. Kani Yilmaz on his previous visits to the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made on whether arms supplied to Turkey by the United Kingdom are being used against the civilian population; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Davis
  Proposed arms sales to Turkey, as to other countries, are considered on a case by case basis and are subject to stringent licensing procedures. Before a licence is granted, a number of considerations are taken into account, including an assessment of the recipient country's human rights record. We do not grant licences for the sale of equipment which we believe is likely to be used for internal repression.

  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he was first
  1381
  informed of the intention of Mr. Kani Yilmaz to enter the United Kingdom on his most recent visit.

  Mr. David Davis
  We were not informed of the intention of Mr. Kani Yilmaz to enter the United Kingdom on his most recent visit.

  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to other NATO countries and to Pakistan to cease the supply of arms to Turkey, with particular reference to bombs; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Davis
  Turkey is a NATO ally and has legitimate defence requirements. All countries, including the United Kingdom, which are members of the EU, NATO and CSCE are guided by common principles on arms sales. It would not be appropriate for Her Majesty's Government to make representations to other countries to cease the supply of arms to Turkey.

  Nuclear Weapons
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he is seeking an agreed EU position on the proposal to submit a resolution to the United Nations General Assembly requesting that the International Court of Justice give its advisory opinion on the legal status of the use and the threat of use of nuclear weapons.

  Mr. David Davis
  We have consulted EU partners who agreed that a United Nations General Assembly resolution on the subject would be inappropriate while the International Court of Justice was already considering a similar appeal from the World Health assembly.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what decisions have been made in the Council of Ministers in respect of the plan of the non-aligned movement to submit a resolution to the United Nations General Assembly requesting that the International Court of Justice give its advisory opinion on the legal status of the use and the threat of use of nuclear weapons.

  Mr. David Davis
  The issue has not been discussed in the Council of Ministers.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how he will vote in the United Nations General Assembly on the resolution requesting that the International Court of Justice give its advisory opinion on the legal status of the use and the threat of use of nuclear weapons.

  Mr. David Davis
  The United Kingdom will vote against any such resolutions.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what co-ordination and contacts have been established between the European Union and NATO in respect of the proposal of the non-aligned movement to submit a resolution at the United Nations General Assembly requesting that the International Court of Justice give its advisory opinion on the legal status of the use and the threat of use of nuclear weapons.

  Mr. David Davis
  There have been no formal contacts between the European Union and NATO on this issue.

  China
  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement 1382
  about the prospects for an improvement in Sino-British relations (a) pre-1997 and (b) post-1997.

  Mr. Goodlad
  We aim to intensify our practical co-operation with China on the basis of shared interests both in relation to Hong Kong and more widely. We have put forward a number of proposals to that end and hope that they will provide the basis for an increasingly co-operative long-term relationship.

  Departmental Property
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what properties are owned or leased by his Department for the use of Ministers; what was the total running cost for each property for the latest year available broken down into(a) furniture and fittings, (b) maintenance, (c) staffing, including the number of butlers, cooks and housekeepers, (d) food and hospitality and (e) other costs; what is the estimated value of each property; and how many times in the latest year the property was stayed in overnight by a Minister.

  Mr. Goodlad
  1 Carlton gardens is leased by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office from the Crown Estate Commissioners. This is for the use of my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary. It is his official London residence.

  The total running costs for 1 Carlton gardens in the financial year 1993–94 were £320,725.

  This is broken down as follows:

  (a) Furniture and furnishings £13,750

  (b) Maintenance:

  (i) rent and rates £120,085

  (ii) utilities £16328

  (iii) day to day maintenance (including contract up) £38,255

  (c) and (d)

  (i) no household or catering staff are employed at 1 Carlton gardens. Staff are engaged on an ad hoc basis when official hospitality is provided. Twenty-five functions for a total of 519 guests were held in FY 1993–94. £24,157

  (ii) Messagerial and security staff provided by the FCO. £107,750

  (e) There were no other running costs.

  The value of the property is not known; the freehold is owned by the Crown Estate Commissioners. When in London, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary resides at 1 Carlton gardens.

  Recruitment
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if questions pertinent to the sexuality of potential recruits to his Department are still being asked during recruitment interviews.

  Mr. Goodlad
  Yes, in the case of recruits to the diplomatic service, so that homosexual officers maybe given suitable advice before bidding for postings to certain countries where homosexual practices might be illegal or socially unacceptable.
  1383
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if his Department operates a policy of non-discrimination against homosexuals in recruitment to all sections of the Department.

  Mr. Goodlad
  Yes.

  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his Department's policy towards those members of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office who have now admitted their homosexuality, but who were originally recruited when homosexuality was a bar to recruitment to his Department; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Goodlad
  Each case is taken on its merits. Officers who concealed during their vetting process the fact that they were homosexual have come forward without any resulting problems. The Department will continue to be as sympathetic as possible in the circumstances of any such cases in the future.

  Burma
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is now Her Majesty's Government's policy towards Burma; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The situation in Burma remains of great concern. Together with our EU partners we suspended all non-humanitarian official aid in 1988 and imposed an arms embargo in 1991. We have made clear that normalisation of our relations will depend on progress in key areas, inclúding human rights and democratic reform.

  Iran
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is now Her Majesty's Government's policy towards Iran; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Government policy on Iran remains as stated in my reply to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Riverside (Mr. Parry) on 25 January 1994, at column 144-45.

  Spencer Stuart Consultants
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many contracts his Department or Government agencies responsible to his Department have entered into with Spencer Stuart consultants in the last two years.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The FCO and ODA can find no record of any contracts with Spencer Stuart in the last two years.

  Western Sahara
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what plans Her Majesty's Government have to expand the scope of operations designed to register Sahrawi voters and ensure that the referendum for self-determination in Western Sahara is carried out in a fair and democratic manner, and is free from either intimidation or manipulation by the Moroccan Government; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what plans Her Majesty's Government have to encourage negotiations between the Polisario and the
  1384
  Moroccan Government prior to the 1995 United Nations referendum in Moroccan-held territory;

  (3) if he will make a statement regarding the exclusion of the international media and other independent observers from Western Sahara by the Government of Morocco;

  (4) what plans Her Majesty's Government have to prevent the harassment by the Moroccan military of Sahrawis who attempt to register to vote in the 1995 United Nations referendum in Moroccan-held territory; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Market Testing
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his current calculation of the costs of preparation for market testing in his Department in terms of(a) payments to consultants and (b) other costs.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The cost of payments by the FCO to consultants for preparation for market testing between 1 April 1992 and 30 June 1994 was £277,272. Other departmental central support costs were £679,970.

  Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty Conference
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to reconvene his periodic round table with non-governmental organisations concerned with proliferation and arms exports issues, prior to the final preparatory committee meeting in New York in January for the nuclear non-proliferation treaty conference.

  Mr. David Davis
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Iraq
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has had from Sir Terence Clark, the ambassador to Iraq from 1985 to 1989, about the condition of Her Majesty's embassy in Baghdad; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  No such representations have been received, though we are aware of Sir T. Clarke's concerns.

  Remedial work on the embassy is unfortunately impractical in present circumstances.

  Atomic Energy
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) for what reason it has been proposed to extend article III bis to the Anglo-American mutual defence agreement on atomic energy matters, of 3 July 1958; what criteria were adopted for deciding on a 10-year extension; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) when Her Majesty's Government first received the proposed amendments from the United States Government to the agreement between the United Kingdom and United States on the co-operation on the uses of atomic energy for mutual defence purposes, of 3 July 1958, as published by the United States President on 23 May 1994;

  (3) what plans he has to lay before Parliament the proposed amendments to the agreement for the

  1385
  co-operation on the uses of atomic energy for mutual defence purposes between the United States and United Kingdom of 3 July 1958;

  (4) what is the reason for introducing the proposed amendment F to article VI of the United States-United Kingdom agreement for the co-operation on the uses of atomic energy for mutual defence purposes, of 3 July 1958; and if he will make a statement on the adequacy of material control and accountability to date in the implementation of the agreement.

  Mr. David Davis
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Foreign Affairs Council
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 27 October to the hon. Member for South Dorset (Mr. Bruce) on the 3 to 4 October Foreign Affairs Council,Official Report, columns 765-66, if he will consult with expert non-Governmental organisations in the preparation of the British input to the report for the Council on plutonium smuggling and deposit a copy of the final report in the Library.

  Mr. David Davis
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Pakistan
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has access to any information provided to Her Majesty's Government before May 1979 in regard to the status of Pakistan's nuclear weapons programme.

  Mr. David Davis
  I will write to the hon. Gentleman.

  Intelligence Service
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, (1) how many personnel are currently employed by GCHQ; and how many of these are women;

  (2) what steps are being taken to promote women within the ranks of the Secret Intelligence Service;

  (3) what percentage of women is employed in each grade of post within GCHQ;

  (4) if he will list the grades of post in order of seniority within the structure of the Secret Intelligence Service;

  (5) what steps are being taken to recruit more women from outside the service into senior positions within the ranks of the Secret Intelligence Service;

  (6) what percentage of women is employed in each grade of post within the Secret Intelligence Service;

  (7) what steps are being taken to promote women within the ranks of Government Communications Headquarters;

  (8) what steps are being taken to recruit more women from outside the service into senior positions within the ranks of GCHQ;

  (9) if he will list the grades of post in order of seniority within the structure of GCHQ;

  (10) how many personnel are currently employed by the Secrety Intelligence Service; and how many of these are women.

  Mr. Hurd
  GCHQ and the Secret Intelligence Service employ about 6,100 and 2,000 people respectively. I am 1386
  not prepared to give a more specific breakdown of the employment structure of the intelligence agencies.

  Both GCHQ and the Secret Intelligence Service operate an equal opportunities policy. Recruitment and promotion are based on merit, not gender.

  Government Communications (Encryption)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans the United Kingdom Government have to develop encryption technology systems for Government and public service communication systems.

  Mr. Hurd
  We are continuing to develop encryption technology for Government and public service communications.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to use the Clipper chip encryption system.

  Mr. Hurd
  There are no plans to use this system in the United Kingdom.

  Philippines
  Mr. McKelvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many visa applications were received from Philippine nationals in the last year for which records were kept; and how many were(a) accepted and (b) refused.

  Mr. Goodlad
  Our entry clearance posts overseas do not record a separate breakdown of visa applications by nationalities. In 1993 the British embassy in Manila received 13,339 applications for United Kingdom visas, of which 11,895 were issued and 1,232 refused. The remainder were still being processed as at 31 December 1993.

  Surveys
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 27 October,Official Report, columns 759–60, if he will place in the Library a copy of the Gallup survey results.

  Mr. Goodlad
  No. The survey was commissioned on a private basis and was not intended to be made public.

  Plutonium Smuggling
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals Her Majesty's Government's permanent representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency put to the special round table meeting on plutonium smuggling convened by the IAEA Director-General in Vienna on 2 November; and if he will place a summary of discussions and decisions taken at the meeting in the Library.

  Mr. David Davis
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  European Union
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements exist to fill the positions of Fisheries Commissioner and Interior Judicial Affairs Commissioner in the event that the Norwegian and Swedish electorates reject joining the European Union.
  1387
  Mr. David Davis
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  European Court of Justice
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those parts of the treaty of Rome and other treaties which confer jurisdiction to the European Court of Justice over defence matters.

  Mr. David Davis
  [holding answer 1 November 1994]: The European Court of Justice has no jurisdiction over the provisions of the Maastricht treaty which refer to defence-article B and article J.4. The ECJ does have jurisdiction to interpret articles 36, 48, 56, 66, 223, 224 and 225 of the treaty of Rome which deal with derogations from the treaty justified on grounds on public or national security. There are similar provisions in international agreements relating to the Communities such as certain co-operation agreements and the European economic area agreement, as well as the technical security provisions in articles 24, 25, 27, 28 and 84 of the European atomic energy treaty.

  Immigration
  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the waiting list for interview to consider applications for immigration into the United Kingdom at each high commission and embassy.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 17 October 1994]: 1 will arrange for the information requested to be placed in the Library of the House shortly, in view of its length.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  Thailand
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) pursuant to his answers of 30 March,Official Report, column 779, if he has yet reached a decision on whether the project to improve the quality of drinking water supplies in Thailand should receive support under the aid and trade provision; and if so at what cost;

  (2) pursuant to his answer of 28 March, Official Report, columns 503-4, if he will list all Ministers involved in negotiations with the Government of Thailand about possible projects to be funded under the framework agreement with Thailand of May 1989;

  (3) pursuant to his answer of 28 March, Official Report, columns 503–4, what projects have been funded or agreed to date arising from the framework agreement with Thailand of May 1989; and at what cost in each case:.

  (4) pursuant to his answer of 28 March, Official Report, columns 503–4, what projects had been considered as possible candidates for support under the framework agreement with Thailand of May 1989 at the time the agreement was made.
  1388
  Mr. Baldry
  I shall write to the hon. Member.

EDUCATION

  Grant-Maintained Schools
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the total number of grant-maintained schools eligible to submit bids for capital grant allocations for named projects in each year from 1990–91 to 1994–95.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Total numbers of GM schools operating on 1 January in each of the last five years are as follows:

  Year

  Number of GM schools

  1990

  20

  1991

  50

  1992

  142

  1993

  333

  1994

  812

  All of these schools were wholly eligible to hid for capital grant allocations in each of the financial years after which they became grant-maintained, and eligible to varying degrees, depending on their actual date of incorporation, to hid in the financial year in which they became grant-maintained.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what applications have been received from promoters for the establishment of new grant-maintained schools under section 49 of the Education Act 1993; and, in each case, what is the character of the proposed school.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Two proposals have been received from promoters for the establishment of new grant-maintained schools under section 49 of the Education Act 1993. One, published on 14 October, is for the establishment of a Jewish secondary school in Leeds for boys and girls aged 11 to 18. The other, published on 17 October, is for the establishment of an interdemoninational Christian school in Bradley Stoke, Avon for boys and girls aged five to 16.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education which grant-maintained schools have applied for a change of character; and, in each case, what was the nature of the change and what was her decision.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  I have placed in the Library a table that lists by category of change proposed, the grant-maintained schools which have published statutory proposals for a significant change of character or significant enlargement, and gives the decision where one has been made.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the total number of parental ballots on grant-maintained status which have taken place in(a) the primary and (b) the secondary sector; and, in each case, how many of these have resulted in a majority of eligible parents voting in favour of grant-maintained status.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The information requested is as follows:
  1389

  Type of School

  Number of ballots on GM status

  Number of ballots with a majority of eligible parents voting in favour

  Primary

  625

  286

  Secondary

  913

  284

  The governing body of a school is required to publish proposals for grant-maintained status if the majority of those eligible parents who vote in a ballot are in favour of so doing. If fewer than 50 per cent. of eligible parents vote a second ballot is required. To date, 75 per cent. of parental ballots at primary schools and 73 per cent. at secondary schools have resulted in a vote in favour of seeking grant-maintained status.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what was the total number of grant-maintained schools which submitted bids for capital grant allocations for named projects in each year from 1990–91 to 1994–95;

  (2) what was the total value of bids submitted by grant-maintained schools for capital grant for named projects in each year from 1990–1 to 1994–95;

  (3) what was the total number of grant-maintained schools for which a capital grant allocation for named projects was approved in each year from 1990–91 to 1994–95;

  (4) what was the total value of capital grant allocations to grant-maintained schools for named projects in each year from 1990–91 to 1994–95;

  (5) what was the total number of schools new to the grant-maintained sector since the previous year for which a capital grant allocation for named projects was approved in each year from 1990–91 to 1994–95.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  I will write to the hon. Member with the information requested as soon as possible.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will list the 10 smallest schools that have become grant-maintained; and how many were on the roll of the smallest.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The 11 smallest grant-maintained schools are as listed, together with their numbers on roll in January 1993.

  School name

  1Number on roll

  Hollinsclough CE Primary School, Staffordshire

  24

  St Mildred's GM CE Primary School, Staffordshire

  25

  Kettleshulme St James CE GM Primary School, Cheshire

  33

  Gilsland CE Primary School (Grant-Maintained), Cumbria

  37

  Orton Church of England School, Cumbria

  39

  The Corbett CE GM Primary School, Staffordshire

  48

  Clifford CE Grant-Maintained School, Sheffield

  51

  Lady Elizabeth Hastings CE Primary School, Leeds

  51

  Wingfield CE Primary School, Wiltshire

  61

  Bowness-On-Solway GM Primary School, Cumbria

  62

  Hallbankgate (Grant-Maintained) Primary School, Cumbria

  62

  1 Information on numbers on roll is derived from the Department for Education's Schools' Census for January 1993.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what has been the percentage of eligible parents taking part in ballots on grant-maintained status 1390
  for primary schools, (a) voting yes, (b) voting no and (c) not voting (i) from 1 September 1988 to 31 August 1989, (ii) from 1 September 1989 to 31 August 1990, (iii) from 1 September 1990 to 31 August 1991, (iv) from 1 September 1991 to 31 August 1992, (v) from 1 September 1992 to 31 August 1993, (vi) from 1 September 1993 to 31 August 1994, and (vii) from 1 September 1988 to 31 August 1994.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The information requested is as follows:

  Percentage of eligible parents

  School Year

  Voting yes

  Voting no

  Not voting

  1988–89

  45

  26

  29

  1989–90

  39

  26

  35

  1990–91

  42

  22

  36

  1991–92

  45

  18

  37

  1992–93

  40

  23

  37

  1993–94

  33

  30

  37

  1988–94

  40

  23

  37

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what has been the percentage of eligible parents taking part in ballots on grant-maintained status for secondary schools,(a) voting yes, (b) voting no and (c) not voting (i) from 1 September 1988 to 31 August 1989, (ii) from 1 September 1989 to 31 August 1990, (iii) from 1 September 1990 to 31 August 1991, (iv) from 1 September 1991 to 31 August 1992, (v) from 1 September 1992 to 31 August 1993, (vi) from 1 September 1993 to 31 August 1994, and (vii) from 1 September 1988 to 31 August 1994.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The information requested is as follows:

  Percentage of eligible parents

  School Year

  Voting yes

  Voting no

  Not voting

  1988–89

  —

  —

  —

  1989–90

  19

  52

  29

  1990–91

  48

  23

  29

  1991–92

  44

  23

  33

  1992–93

  46

  22

  32

  1993–94

  38

  31

  31

  1988–94

  43

  25

  32

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the total number of pupils in the grant-maintained schools eligible to submit bids for capital grant for named projects in the January prior to the start of each financial year from 1990–91 to 1994–95.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Pupil numbers at grant-maintained schools on 1 January of each of the last five years are as follows.

  Year.

  Number of pupils(FTE)

  1990

  13,750

  1991

  36,450

  1992

  109,000

  1993

  242,700

  1994

  555,500

  1391
  These pupils were at schools which were wholly eligible to bid for capital grant allocations in each of the financial years after that in which they became grant-maintained, and eligible to varying degrees, depending on their actual date of incorporation, to bid in the financial year in which they became grant-maintained.

  Numbers shown are derived from the Department for Education's annual schools' census, with part-time primary pupils included as full-time equivalents. All figures are rounded to the nearest 50.

  Overseas Students
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to her answer of 24 October,Official Report, column 416, how much funding will be made available to students from the United States of America to study in the United Kingdom in 1994–95.

  Mr. Boswell
  Students from the United States of America will receive £3.001 million of Government funding in financial year 1994–95, which is made up from DFE, FCO and British Council scholarship schemes for overseas students.

  Russell Group
  Ms Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans she has to concentrate funding for research to a group of 10 universities.

  Mr. Boswell
  None. The Government's 1991 White Paper "Higher Education: A New Framework" stated that, while research. funds should be allocated selectively on the basis of assessment of research quality, all higher education institutions should be able to compete for those funds. Some will inevitably succeed more than others in the competition, but all remain eligible for funding.

  School Books
  Ms Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the expenditure on school books, in real terms, for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Total expenditure on books and equipment in local authorities' maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools is shown in the following table. Not all authorities' returns identify spending on books separately. Figures are in constant–1993–94—prices.

  £ million

  1979–80

  407·4

  1980–81

  374·2

  1981–82

  370·8

  1982–83

  385·2

  1983–84

  387·8

  1984–85

  384·1

  1985–86

  375·0

  1986–87

  433·0

  1987–88

  435·0

  1988–89

  435·7

  1989–90

  461·6

  1990–91

  441·0

  1991–92

  511·0

  1992–93

  523·4

  The figures do not include returns in respect grant-maintained or independent schools.

  Capital Grant
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the total value of the formula allocation of capital grant in each year from 1990–91 to 1994–95.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Capital allocations within the Department's programme take the form either of annual capital guidelines to local authorities or of capital grant, which for the most part is disbursed by the Higher Education and Further Education funding councils and the Funding Agency for Schools. The total value of the main formula elements within the grant component is set out as follows. It covers grants to grant-maintained and voluntary-aided schools, higher education institutions and further education institutions.

  Formula allocation of capital grant: total value

  £ million

  1990–91

  173·3

  1991–92

  189·0

  1992–93

  225·7

  1993–94

  314·4

  1994–95

  323·3

  School Buildings
  Ms Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much has been spent on repair and maintenance on school buildings, in real terms, in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  I will write to the hon. Member with the information requested as soon as possible.

  Public Opinion Surveys
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to his answer of 25 October,Official Report, column 524–25, what was the total cost of public opinion surveys conducted since 1 January 1994.

  Mr. Boswell
  The total cost of public opinion surveys conducted by DFE and its agencies since 1 January 1994 is some £133,000.

  Departmental Property
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what properties are owned or leased by her Department for the use of Ministers; what was the total running cost for each property for the latest year available broken down into(a) furniture and fittings, (b) maintenance, (c) staffing, including the number of butlers, cooks and housekeepers, (d) food and hospitality and (e) other costs; what is the estimated value of each property; and how many times in the latest year the property was stayed in overnight by a Minister.

  Mr. Forth
  The Department does not own or lease any properties for ministerial use.

  Student Grants
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will make a statement on the treatment of the child of(a) a co-habiting couple and (b) a married couple in identical financial circumstances when assessment is made of student grant entitlement on the standard scale.
  1393
  Mr. Boswell
  Under the Education (Mandatory Awards) Regulations the assessment of a married student's requirements for the maintenance of his dependants compared with one in identical personal financial circumstances who is cohabiting may vary according to the number of dependants and any income these may have.

  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will make a statement on the definition of residual income on page 33 of "Student Grants and Loans: A Brief Guide for Higher Education Students 1994–95" as being income after tax and allowances are taken off.

  Mr. Boswell
  The definition of residual income on page 33 of "Student Grants and Loans: a Brief Guide for Higher Education Students 1994–95" was inaccurate. An erratum slip was issued to all local education authorities immediately after publication. It explained that the correct description of the calculation of residual income appears on page 29 of the booklet. Reprints of the booklet did not include the incorrect definition.

  Governors
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) how many additional governors she has appointed; and at which schools;

  (2) how many additional governors she has appointed to grant-maintained schools; if she will list the schools; and what has been the total cost to date of such appointments.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  By virtue of section 67 of the Education Act 1993, which re-enacts section 53(6) of the Education Reform Act 1988, the Secretary of State has the power in certain circumstances to appoint additional governors to grant-maintained schools only. Four such appointments have been made, all to Stratford grant-maintained school. There has been no cost to the Department.

  Stuart Spencer Consultants
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many contracts her Department or Government agencies responsible to her Department have entered into with Spencer Stuart consultants in the last two years.

  Mr. Forth
  None.

  Market Testing
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is her current calculation of the costs of preparation for market testing in her Department in terms of(a) payments to consultants and (b) other costs.

  Mr. Boswell
  The figures requested are £280,000 on consultancy fees in support of the Department's market testing programme and £184,000 on departmental support costs up to the end of June 1994.

  Secondary Schools
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will list for each local education authority area,(a) the total number of secondary schools, (b) how many of these are, or if grant-maintained, were, (i) county, (ii) voluntary aided, (iii) special agreement and (iv) voluntary controlled, (c) how many have held parental
  1394
  ballots on grant-maintained status, (d) how many are operating as grant-maintained schools and (e) what percentage of pupils are in grant-maintained schools.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The information requested cannot be collated in the time available. I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as it is ready.

  Teachers (Pay)
  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will list the pay scales for head teachers in primary and secondary schools.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The pay spine for headteachers and deputy headteachers is as follows:

  Spine Point

  Annual Salary from 1 April 1994 £

  1

  23,055

  2

  23,430

  3

  23,811

  4

  24,186

  5

  24,567

  6

  24,942

  7

  25,323

  8

  25,695

  9

  26,079

  10

  26,457

  11

  26,832

  12

  27,210

  13

  27,585

  14

  27,969

  15

  28,344

  16

  28,722

  17

  29,097

  18

  29,481

  19

  29,856

  20

  30,234

  21

  30,741

  22

  31,239

  23

  31,743

  24

  32,250

  25

  32,754

  26

  33,255

  27

  33,759

  28

  34,266

  29

  34,770

  30

  35,403

  31

  36,030

  32

  36,657

  33

  37,287

  34

  37,923

  35

  38,550

  36

  39,180

  37

  39,810

  38

  40,692

  39

  41,571

  40

  42,456

  41

  43,335

  42

  44,214

  43

  45,102

  44

  45,981

  45

  46,860

  46

  47,745

  47

  48,627

  48

  49,509

  49

  50,391

  50

  51,270

  51

  52,152

  Further details may be found in the school teachers' pay and conditions document 1994, or Department for

  1395
  Education circular 7/94, copies of which have been placed in the Library.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) if she will list the pay scales of teachers in primary schools;

  (2) if she will list the pay scales of teachers in secondary schools.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Qualified teachers other than head teachers or deputy head teachers in both primary and secondary schools are paid on a single 18-point pay spine. The values of the 18 points are as follows:

  Spine Point

  Annual Salary From 1 May 1994 £

  0

  11,571

  1

  12,264

  2

  12,999

  3

  13,779

  4

  14,607

  5

  15,480

  6

  16,410

  7

  17,394

  8

  18,438

  9

  19,614

  10

  20,832

  11

  22,068

  12

  23,832

  13

  25,419

  14

  27,450

  15

  28,683

  16

  29,976

  17

  31,323

  Further details may be found in the school teachers' pay and conditions document 1994, or the Department for Education circular, No. 7/94, copies of which have been placed in the Library.

  Health Education
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if her Department is sending a delegate to the European seminar on health education and HIV/AIDS prevention in schools on 3 November in Rome; and what was the basis for her decision.

  Mr. Forth
  The Department will not be represented directly. Officials have requested conference papers and arranged for United Kingdom delegates who are attending to report back on the proceedings.

  Public Investment Projects
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will list those public investment projects within her Department's responsibility which have attracted private capital and which have been commenced since November 1993.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The Department for Education is not directly responsible for the disbursement of grants to educational institutions except for allocations to voluntary aided and special agreement schools, technology colleges and to city technology colleges. Information on voluntary aided and special agreement schools is held on a financial year basis only and cannot be adapted to the form requested. The list of projects for technology colleges and city technology colleges is as follows:
  1396
  Technology Colleges

  Aldersley High School, Wolveerhampton

  All Hallows RC High School, Preston, Lancashire

  All Saints Catholic School, Barking and Dagenham

  Applemore Technology School, Southampton

  Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School, Rossendale, Lancashire

  Baines School, Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancashire

  Belper School, Derbyshire

  Bexley-Erith Technical High School for Boys, Bexley

  Bishop Stopford VA School, Northamptonshire

  Central Technology College, Gloucester

  Chalvedon School, Basildon, Essex

  Chatham Grammar School for Girls, Chatham, Kent

  Collingwood School, Camberley, Surrey

  The Cornwallis School, Maidstone, Kent

  Deacon's School, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire

  Deanery High School, Wigan

  Denefield School, Reading, Berkshire

  George Spencer School, Nottingham

  Glyn School, Epsom, Surrey

  Harraby School, Carlisle, Cumbria

  Herschel Grammar School, Slough, Berkshire

  Highbury School, Salisbury, Wiltshire

  Hugh Christie School, Tonbridge, Kent

  John Kelly Boys Community School, Neasden, Brent

  John Kelly Girls Community School, Neasden, Brant

  Kemnal Technology College, Sidcup, Bromley

  The Kings School Grantham, Lincolnshire

  Lancaster Royal Grammar School, Lancashire

  Lincoln School of Science and Technology, Lincolnshire

  Lodge Park School, Corby, Northamptonshire

  Lynn Grove GM High School, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk

  Mill Hill County High School, Barnet

  New Wellington School, Altrincham, Cheshire

  Northampton School for Boys, Northamptonshire

  The Philip Morant School, Colchester, Essex

  Prospect School, Reading, Berkshire

  Rastrick High School, Brighouse, West Yorkshire

  Ravens Wood School for Boys, Bromley

  Saffron Walden County High School, Essex

  Sale Moor School, Sale, Cheshire

  Sawtry Community College, Cambridgeshire

  Senacre Technology School, Maidstone, Kent

  Small Heath School, Birmingham

  Soham Village College, Cambridgeshire

  St. Aidan's Church of England VA High School, Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancashire

  St. Alban's Catholic High School, Ipswich, Suffolk

  St. Bonaventure's School, Newham

  St. George's Technology School, Sleaford, Lincolnshire

  St. Peter's Collegiate Church of England School, Wolverhampton

  St. Thomas More School, Blaydon, Tyne and Wear

  City Technology Colleges

  ADT College, Wandsworth, London

  BRIT School, Croydon, Surrey

  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much private capital has been invested in public investment projects within her Department's responsibility since the 1992 autumn statement.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The information requested is not held centrally. The Department keeps records of voluntary aided capital projects all of which have a private component of at least 15 per cent. City technology colleges also receive a large element of private capital input. In both cases we are not able to determine the time the investment was made. Responsibility for other public
  1397
  funded education facilities rests with the funding councils and individual local education authorities.

  Universities (Extremist Groups)
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what representations she has received regarding the disruption to university life from the activities of extremist groups.

  Mr. Boswell
  None, on this specific point.

  Physical Education
  Ms Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what percentage of primary school teachers have qualifications in physical education; and what plans there are to increase this number.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Ms Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what percentage of primary school children receive swimming lessons every school week.

  Mr. Forth
  The national curriculum specifies that all children should be able to swim 25 m by the age of 11. It is for individual schools to decide how and when to provide swimming lessons in order to meet this requirement and their own priorities for swimming. The information on the percentage of children receiving swimming lessons each week is not collected centrally.

  Ms Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what co-ordination he has with other Government Departments in order to facilitate the teaching of team sports in schools.

  Mr. Forth
  The Government are currently considering ways of enhancing the position of team sports in schools. An announcement will be made in due course. All interested Departments are contributing to the review.

  Business and Technology Education Council
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the expenditure on administration in 1993–94 of the Business and Technology Education Council.

  Mr. Boswell
  The Business and Technology Education Council—BTEC—was established in 1983 to combine and develop the work of the former business education 1398
  council—BEC—and technician education council—TEC. On 1 October 1993, BTEC ceased to be a non-departmental public body, becoming fully independent. Consequently, its financial arrangements are no longer the responsibility of Secretary of State and now rest with BTEC itself.

  Primary Schools
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will list for each local education authority area,(a) the total number of primary schools, (b) how many of these are, or if grant-maintained, were (i) county, (ii) voluntary aided, (iii) special agreement and (iv) voluntary controlled, (c) how many have held parental ballots on grant-maintained status, (d) how many are operating as grant-maintained schools and (e) what percentage of pupils are in grant-maintained schools.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The information requested cannot be collated in the time available. I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as it is ready.

  Education, Support and Training Programme
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the total value of the grants for education, support and training programme agreed for 1994–95, the value of items which will be wholly or partially delegated to schools, the value of items which must be retained centrally by local education authorities for the provision of services to schools and the value of her Department's grant contribution in each case.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The GEST programme for 1994–95 supports LEA expenditure of £270.6 million. The Department pays grant on this expenditure at the rate of 60 per cent. for all grants, except one of £3 million for articled teachers' bursaries which is paid at the rate of 100 per cent. The total grant payable by the Department is £163·6 million.

  Of this total, £100·5 million LEA expenditure—£60.3 million DFE grant—must be devolved to schools. LEAs are encouraged to devolve much of the remainder of the programme to school level where this is appropriate.

  The only grants which may not be devolved to school level are those for special education needs parent partnership schemes—£3·7 million expenditure, £2.2 million grant—and part of the grant for national curriculum assessment arrangements.

  UN CHARTER: STATES' RIGHT TO SELF DEFENCE
  UN CHARTER: STATES' RIGHT TO SELF DEFENCE
  LEGAL AID: GREEN FORM SCHEME
  LEGAL AID: GREEN FORM SCHEME
  CORMORANTS
  CORMORANTS